CJP leaders sent to judicial custody after Jantar Mantar detention; lawyer alleges SC norms ignored

New Delhi: Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka were remanded to five days’ judicial custody on Wednesday in connection with a trespassing case at Jantar Mantar, while party member Ajinkya Shinde was released on a personal bond.

The three were detained on Tuesday after they allegedly crossed police barricades and entered Jantar Mantar, which the Delhi Police de-notified as a designated protest site on October 12. They were reportedly on their way to hold a protest against the Election Commission of India over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Review (SIR) of electoral rolls.

Police said the leaders raised slogans against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar while attempting to breach the barricades. They were booked for trespassing, violation of bond conditions and obstruction of public servants discharging their duties, and produced before a magistrate at Mandir Marg on Wednesday morning.

Das and Ranka were treated as repeat offenders as they had earlier been released after furnishing a Rs 50,000 bond in a case related to an October 10 protest. The bond had imposed a condition that they would not be involved in any breach-of-peace case for a year.

Advocate Abhisht Hela, appearing for the three CJP leaders, alleged that the order sending Das and Ranka to judicial custody was passed without proper judicial application of mind and disregarded rulings laid down by the Supreme Court.

He said the officers acting as executive magistrates were of Superintendent of Police rank and were senior police officials, not judicial magistrates.

Hela also objected to the authorities acting on the presumption that the accused might commit an offence. “The court said that it believes they could do something, and on that basis, they have been sent to jail for five days,” he said.

Referring to Shinde’s remarks, the lawyer said the leaders had been sent to custody for raising the slogan “Bharat Mata Ki Jai” and waving the national flag, calling it deeply distressing and “a black day for the country”.

He said it was not yet clear where Das and Ranka would be lodged, as persons sent to judicial custody are generally taken to Tihar Jail.

According to the Delhi Police, Jantar Mantar was de-notified as the designated protest site on October 12 following recommendations of a Home Ministry committee. New guidelines were issued under Delhi Police Standing Order No. L&O/48/2026.

The police have designated Ramlila Ground, Burari Ground and CBD Ground in East Delhi as the new sites for protests in the national capital.

(Inputs from IANS)