Jagan Mohan Reddy: Arrests of Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka Solve Nothing
YSRCP chief Jagan Mohan Reddy expresses solidarity with CJP activists Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka following their 5-day judicial custody.
YSRCP chief YS Jagan Mohan Reddy has come out in strong support of Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) activists Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka, stating that their recent arrests do nothing to address the underlying issues. Expressing his solidarity on social media, the former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister emphasized that the current approach is failing to fix systemic flaws.
A Call for Systemic Reform
In a post shared on X, Reddy argued that a proactive approach is far more effective than a reactive one. He suggested that rather than focusing on detentions, the authorities should focus on correcting the flaws within the electoral system to rebuild public confidence.
"The arrests of Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka do not solve anything; it only aggravates the situation. The system has a flaw that needs to be corrected. Trust in the electoral process must be restored," Reddy stated, while also expressing his empathy for the two activists.
Judicial Custody Ordered
The political commentary follows a legal development in Delhi, where a Special Executive Magistrate (SEM) Court ordered the remand of the two CJP leaders. Following their arrest by the Delhi Police, Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka were produced before SEM Mahesh Kumar Meena at the Mandir Marg Police Station.
The court has remanded both individuals to five days of judicial custody, effective until October 19. The magistrate noted in the order that the remand was necessary because the respondents failed to provide the required sound surety for their release. To maintain public peace and order, the court also issued notices under Section 130 of the BNSS.
The Incident at Jantar Mantar
The legal trouble stems from an incident on the morning of October 13. According to statements released by the Delhi Police, the situation unfolded at the denotified Jantar Mantar protest site. The police claim that:
- Saurav Das, Ashutosh Ranka, and 11 other CJP members allegedly entered the protest site through private premises.
- Police personnel on duty attempted to intervene and stop the group.
- The protesters allegedly obstructed police officers from performing their official duties.
As a result of the confrontation, the police detained a total of 14 individuals. Two separate FIRs have been registered against the group. One FIR (No. 289/26) was filed at the Connaught Place police station, while another (No. 128/26) was lodged at the Parliament Street police station, involving various sections related to obstructing public servants and maintaining public order.
The matter is scheduled for further enquiry on October 19.