Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka occupy separate cells at Tihar Jail, sources said on Wednesday. Jail authorities have placed Das in Jail No 2 and Ranka in Jail No 4.
A magistrate remanded both leaders to five-day judicial custody in the Jantar Mantar trespassing case. Their associate, Ajinkya Shinde, secured release on a personal bond.
Advocate Abhisht Hela, representing the three CJP members, confirmed the custody order. He questioned its legality and criticised the authorities for allegedly disregarding Supreme Court guidelines.
Hela argued that Special Executive Magistrates (SEMs), who hold Superintendent of Police rank, are police officers rather than judicial magistrates. He alleged that the authorities issued the order without applying judicial reasoning and acted on presumptions about potential disturbances.
Hela said the authorities had jailed the leaders for five days because they raised ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’ slogans and waved the national flag. He described the development as a ‘black day for the country’.
Earlier, CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke, Das and Ranka secured release in an October 10 protest case after furnishing bonds of Rs 50,000.
The court barred them from involvement in breach-of-peace cases for one year. Authorities now accuse Das and Ranka of trespassing and violating bond conditions, treating them as repeat offenders.
Police detained the three leaders on Tuesday after they crossed barricades at Jantar Mantar while protesting alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. They raised slogans against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
Delhi Police de-notified Jantar Mantar as a designated protest site on October 12 under Standing Order No L&O/48/2026, following a Home Ministry committee’s recommendations.
Authorities designated Ramlila Ground, Burari Ground and CBD Ground in East Delhi as alternative protest venues.
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