CJP Leaders Sentenced: Sourav Das and Ashutosh Ranka Sent to Tihar Jail

In a significant legal development following a high-profile protest at Delhi's iconic Jantar Mantar, the Special Executive Magistrate has sentenced two prominent leaders of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) to five days of judicial custody. Sourav Das and Ashutosh Ranka, who were at the forefront of the demonstration, have been ordered to be sent to Tihar Jail. This decision comes after the Delhi Police presented arguments regarding the repeated violation of law and order by the activists. While Das and Ranka face imprisonment, their associate Ajinkya Shinde was released on a personal bond after the court proceedings at the Mandir Marg police station.

The Incident at Jantar Mantar

The events unfolded on Tuesday when Sourav Das, Ashutosh Ranka, and Ajinkya Shinde, accompanied by a group of supporters, attempted to enter the Jantar Mantar area. The site, which has historically been a hub for protests, is currently under the jurisdiction of Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), which prohibits unauthorized gatherings. Despite the heavy police presence and barricading, the activists managed to enter the restricted zone to voice their demands, specifically calling for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The Delhi Police detained the group and their supporters, initially taking them to Jafferpur Kalan. However, late at night, the detention of Sourav Das, Ashutosh Ranka, and Ajinkya Shinde was converted into a preventive arrest.

Court Proceedings and Police Arguments

The three leaders were produced before the Special Executive Magistrate at the Mandir Marg police station on Wednesday morning. During the hearing, the Delhi Police presented a strong case for judicial custody. The police counsel argued that just four days prior, Ashutosh Ranka and Sourav Das had been placed under preventive arrest for similar activities. At that time, they were released on conditional bail after signing a bond promising not to disturb public peace in the future. The police contended that by returning to Jantar Mantar and violating Section 163, the leaders had breached their bond conditions and demonstrated a likelihood of breaking the law again. Taking these arguments into account, the Magistrate ordered 5 days of judicial custody for Das and Ranka, while Shinde was granted release on a personal bond.

Abhijit Dipke's Sharp Reaction

The sentencing has sparked a fierce reaction from CJP founder Abhijit Dipke. Expressing his anger over the court's decision and the police action, Dipke questioned the state of democracy in the country. He stated, "If you want to impose an Emergency, then declare it officially. Why 5 days in jail for waving the tricolor at Jantar Mantar? Is waving the tricolor wrong? These people are hiding behind the police. What was the crime of my colleagues? " His statements reflect the party's stance that the protest was a peaceful expression of democratic rights and that the legal action is an attempt to suppress dissent.

Allegations by CJP Legal Head Ratna Singh

Ratna Singh, the Legal Head of CJP, took to social media to highlight the circumstances of the arrests, while in a post on X (formerly Twitter), she detailed the police's actions, stating that the leaders were arrested at the Parliament Street police station. She wrote, "Delhi Police has today arrested Sourav Das, Ashutosh Ranka, and Ajinkya Shinde in the Jantar Mantar case at Parliament Street Police Station. They're accused of entering without permission, violating bond conditions, and obstructing government officials in their duty. They will be produced in the SCM court in the morning. There is a possibility of them being sent to judicial custody in Tihar Jail. They weren't allowed to meet their lawyers until late at night, while they were brought to the Parliament Street Police Station in a private van at 3 am.

Context of the SIR Protests and Venue Changes

The arrests are part of a larger friction between the CJP and the authorities over the 'Special Intensive Revision' (SIR) of voter lists. CJP and other organizations have been conducting various protests against alleged irregularities in the SIR process. Amidst these tensions, security in the national capital was heightened, while on October 11, Delhi Police Commissioner Anurag Kumar issued an order designating Ramlila Maidan, Burari Ground, and CBD Ground as the official sites for protests. Consequently, Jantar Mantar was removed from the list of designated protest venues. The CJP has criticized this move, arguing that shifting protests away from the political heart of the capital reduces the visibility of public dissent, while the police action on Tuesday was a direct result of the activists entering this now-restricted zone to demand accountability from the Election Commission.