Agencies | New Delhi:
Delhi Police has registered two FIRs against 14 members of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) for allegedly entering Jantar Mantar without authorisation and obstructing police personnel from discharging their official duties, following the denotification of the site as a designated protest venue.
CJP leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka have been remanded to five days of judicial custody and lodged in Tihar Jail, while their associate Ajinkya Shinde has been bound down to maintain peace and good behaviour for six months, according to a Delhi Police statement.
The 14 party members were detained on October 13 after allegedly entering the Jantar Mantar area without authorisation. Police said the group, including Das, Ranka and Shinde, reached the site in the morning by passing through private premises.
Personnel deployed at the location intervened to stop them, but the protesters allegedly obstructed the police in the discharge of their official duties, the statement said.
According to PTI, the activists allegedly breached barricades and raised slogans demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
Delhi Police said two FIRs were registered on October 13 in connection with the incident.
FIR No. 289/26 was registered at Connaught Place police station under Sections 223(a), 332 and 61(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). FIR No. 128/26 was registered at Parliament Street police station under Sections 221, 115(2), 132, 121(1) and 3(5) of the BNS.
The cases relate to alleged unlawful entry, obstruction of police personnel and other offences mentioned in the FIRs. Police said the 14 individuals were dealt with under the relevant legal
According to the police statement, preventive proceedings were initiated against Das, Ranka and Shinde under Sections 126 and 170 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS).
Police cited alleged repeated attempts to disturb public peace and violate the law, along with concerns that the individuals could repeat such actions or instigate others through social media.
After considering the police proceedings and the apprehension of further violations, the Special Executive Magistrate remanded Das and Ranka to five days of judicial custody.
The two leaders had also been detained during a protest on Saturday and had signed bonds to maintain peace for one year, police said. Their latest detention followed the alleged violation of the conditions of those bonds.
Shinde, who was produced before the Executive Magistrate along with the two leaders, was instead bound down for six months. According to the police statement, he was required to furnish a personal bond and surety of Rs 5,000.
Reacting to the action, CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke criticised the detention of Das and Ranka and accused the Central government of suppressing dissent.
In a post on X, Dipke said, “Ashu and Saurav have been sent to five days’ judicial custody. Their fault? Unfurling the Tricolour at Jantar Mantar.”
His remarks came after the two leaders were remanded to judicial custody in connection with the alleged trespass and obstruction incident.
The incident comes amid protests by the CJP and other organisations against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
On October 11, Delhi Police Commissioner Anurag Kumar issued an order designating Ramlila Maidan, Burari Ground and CBD Ground as venues for protests and demonstrations, following which Jantar Mantar was denotified as a designated protest site.
The CJP has criticised the decision, arguing that shifting demonstrations away from the political centre of the national capital would reduce the visibility of public dissent.
The latest police action followed the alleged entry of party members into Jantar Mantar on October 13, despite the change in the site’s status. Delhi Police said the cases and preventive proceedings were initiated in accordance with the law.
