Delhi Police had sought further custody, but the court freed Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka once they undertook not to organise demonstrations at Jantar Mantar until it is lawfully restored as a protest venue
BY PC Bureau
October 21: Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) leaders, Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka, were released on Wednesday after spending a week in custody, following written undertakings to a New Delhi court that they would not call for or organise protests at Jantar Mantar while its denotification as a protest site remains in force.
The Special Executive Magistrate recorded separate but identical undertakings from the two men. Both pledged to maintain peace, expressed faith in the judiciary and promised not to issue any call for a demonstration at Jantar Mantar “till such a time that it is de-notified in accordance with law”. They also undertook to ensure that any future protest remained within the constitutional framework.
The court directed their release after they furnished personal and surety bonds of ₹50,000 each. However, the proceedings against them have not concluded, with the next hearing scheduled for Friday.
Das and Ranka had been in judicial custody since October 14. Their arrest followed a protest on October 13, when they climbed the locked gates of Jantar Mantar and waved the national flag to oppose the withdrawal of the site’s designated protest status. Police alleged that the act violated a peace bond the two had signed after being detained on October 10, when they first called for a demonstration over alleged electoral irregularities.
“Truth has triumphed,” Das said after leaving the court.
Even after keeping CJP leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka in Tihar Jail for 7 days just for waving the Tiranga at Jantar Mantar, Delhi Police wasn’t satisfied.
Today, the police walked into court demanding 3 more days of custody as if two youths protesting peacefully were the biggest security threat in the capital.
The Special Executive Magistrate finally rejected the police demand and ordered their release, after which Saurav Das walked out saying, “Truth has triumphed”.
Imagine the state of Delhi if the police showed even half this desperation against real criminals instead of unarmed youth.
#sauravdas #cjp
https://t.co/bYoSqGyBcz— Vivek Kumar (@Mr__Vivek_) October 21, 2026
Police opposed Das, Ranka Release
Delhi Police had opposed their release, seeking a further three days of custody. The two were initially remanded for five days, before their custody was extended by another two days.
Earlier on Wednesday, the CJP, founded by Abhijeet Dipke, approached the Delhi High Court, arguing that the extension of custody of Dan and ranka was intended to prolong the leaders’ detention. During the proceedings, the High Court referred to the alleged breach of their bond and observed that when protesters break barricades, others may follow, potentially creating a situation beyond the organisers’ control.
READ: Violent Protests Rock Imphal Over Killing of Three Meitei Civilians
The bench also referred to instances in which protests had escalated into arson and violence, without identifying any particular country. It further remarked that the two leaders, aged 27 and 31, did not belong to the Gen-Z cohort that has been prominent in recent street demonstrations.
The CJP has continued its campaign demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The allegations have also featured in the Opposition’s broader challenge to the voter-roll revision exercise.
