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CJP leaders Saurav Das, Ashutosh Ranka and Ajinkya Shinde were placed under preventive arrest
New Delhi: Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) leaders Saurav Das, Ashutosh Ranka and Ajinkya Shinde have been placed under preventive arrest by the Delhi Police following their entry into Jantar Mantar, triggering a fresh dispute over the handling of protesters in the national capital.
The party's legal affairs head, Ratna Singh, said the three activists had been arrested and were expected to be produced before a Special Executive Magistrate on Wednesday morning. The Delhi Police, however, described the action as preventive arrest, according to reports.
The development came after the activists entered the Jantar Mantar protest site by climbing over its locked gates on Tuesday, a day after the venue was removed from the list of designated protest locations.
Ratna Singh alleged that the detained activists were not allowed to meet their lawyers despite repeated attempts. She also claimed that their mobile phones had been taken away and that they were initially not informed of the grounds for their detention.
Cockroaches @AjinkyaCJP, @AshutoshRanka & @SauravDassss inside the parliament street police station. Nothing can break their spirits.
What a cool picture @whattalawyer https://t.co/aMtdwZb9Ip
— Abhijeet Dipke (@abhijeet_dipke) October 13, 2026
In a post on social media, Singh said the activists were being held at the Parliament Street police station and would be produced before the Special Executive Magistrate. She also raised concerns over the possibility of further legal action against them.
The allegations have not been independently verified. The police's position, as reported, is that the activists were placed under preventive arrest. Further details about the proceedings are awaited.
The detention followed a protest attempt by CJP members at Jantar Mantar on Tuesday morning. Das, Ranka and Shinde, along with other party volunteers, allegedly climbed over locked gates to enter the premises.
Videos shared by the party showed activists entering the site with the national flag and raising slogans demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
The action came after Delhi Police announced that Jantar Mantar was no longer a designated protest venue. Three alternative locations — Ramlila Maidan, Burari Ground and CBD Ground in Shahdara — were identified for demonstrations.
CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke defended the activists' move, arguing that the removal of the venue's protest-site status would not stop the party's campaign.
The difference between the party's claim of formal arrest and the police's description of preventive arrest remains central to the latest development.
#BREAKING: Delhi Police arrests Saurav Das, Ashutosh Ranka, and Ajinkya Shinde at Parliament Street Police Station in today’s Jantar Mantar case.
Trespass, bond violation, obstruction of public official’s duty, etc.
They’ll be produced before the SCM Court in the morning. A possibility of Judicial Custody (JC) in the Tihar Jail is possible.
They were not allowed to meet their lawyers till late at night. They were brought to Parliament Street PS at 3 AM in a private van.
Despite these illegal actions, their spirits are high.
@Cockroachisback
— Ratna Singh (@whattalawyer) October 13, 2026
Preventive action is intended to stop a potential offence or breach of peace. The activists were expected to be produced before a Special Executive Magistrate, where the authorities' next steps and the legal basis for their detention could become clearer.
The case has intensified the confrontation between CJP and the Delhi Police over access to Jantar Mantar, the right to protest and the conditions under which demonstrations can be held in the capital.
Further developments are expected following the scheduled proceedings on Wednesday.
