The legal troubles of Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) co-convenors Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka have increased further in the case of protesting at Jantar Mantar by entering without permission and violating the bail bond to maintain peace. Delhi's special court has refused to grant immediate relief to both the leaders and has extended their judicial custody for two more days. On Monday, October 19, after the five-day preliminary judicial custody was over, both were produced in the court of the Special Executive Magistrate (SEM) at Mandir Marg police station. In the court, Delhi Police argued about the past conduct of both the leaders, repeatedly breaking prohibitory orders and flagrant violation of bail bond conditions. The prosecution argued that it would not be appropriate to release the accused in order to maintain law and order and peace. After hearing the arguments of both the parties, the magistrate ordered to keep Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka in Tihar jail till October 21. Along with this, considering the seriousness of the matter, Delhi Police has officially handed over the investigation of this entire unauthorized entry and nuisance case to the Crime Branch. What is the whole matter: There was a protest at Jantar Mantar by jumping the closed gate. The controversy started on 13 October 2026, when CJP leaders reached Jantar Mantar and demonstrated. It is noteworthy that Jantar Mantar was already excluded from the list of designated protest sites by the administration. According to police allegations: Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka illegally entered the Jantar Mantar complex by jumping the police barricades and closed gates. Both of them, along with their supporters, waved the national flag and raised slogans against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process. The police detained both of them from the spot and, taking action under the sections of violation of prohibitory order and breach of peace, produced them before the Special Executive Magistrate, from where they were sent to Tihar Jail for 5 days judicial custody on October 14. Why relief was not given in the court: Violation of the conditions of bail bond became a noose. The biggest reason for both the leaders not getting relief during the hearing in the court was their old bail bond of 11th October. In fact, on October 10, CJP founders Abhijit Deepke, Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka had already been detained by the police. On October 11, the magistrate court of Delhi Cantt had released all three on a bond of ₹ 50 thousand each with the condition that they will not disturb the peace in any way for the next one year and will follow the law. But within just 48 hours of their release, both the leaders again reached Jantar Mantar, breaking Section 144 and prohibitory orders. In the court, the police strongly argued that when the accused did not care about the conditions of the legal bond already given, then releasing them on bail again could become a threat to public peace. Magistrate received threat, judge changed and NCR registered. This high-profile case took a new turn on Sunday when the Special Executive Magistrate (ACP Rituraj), who was conducting the initial hearing of this bail case, alleged that he was being threatened by unknown persons. The police filed a non-cognizable report (NCR) at the Sansad Marg police station after a written complaint was received against the magistrate that he had received a threat. After this serious incident, the concerned magistrate was removed from hearing the case and on Monday, both the leaders were presented in the court of the newly appointed Special Executive Magistrate posted at Mandir Marg, who accepted the remand application of the police and extended their custody by two more days. CJP's counterattack: 'Police are deliberately delaying to stop the release' On the other hand, the legal team of Cockroach Janata Party and founder Abhijeet Deepke (who has already got bail) have made serious allegations against Delhi Police and administration. Posting on social media platform 'X' (formerly Twitter), Abhijeet Deepke alleged that the police were deliberately obstructing the legal processes to keep his co-convenors in jail. CJP claims that he had presented all the valid documents of the sureties on the court record, but the police and administration prolonged the process citing technical and vague grounds. What next: Will appear in court again on October 21. The two-day extended judicial custody of Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka is ending on Wednesday, October 21. Now the case is being investigated by the Crime Branch of Delhi Police, which is examining the technical and digital evidence of illegal entry and conspiracy to disturb peace at Jantar Mantar. When both the leaders will be produced in the court again on Wednesday, it will be important to see whether the court orders their release on bond or the crime branch demands further custody in this case.
