A New Delhi magistrate extended the Cockroach Janta Party detention of two youth-led movement leaders by two days on Monday, five days after they were taken into custody over a flash protest at the capital’s most famous demonstration site.
Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) leaders Ashutosh Ranka, 30, and Saurav Das, 27, were shown on television footage being taken away in a blue police van from the police station where the hearing took place.
CJP activists and opposition parties have defied a security crackdown to demand the resignation of India’s chief election commissioner, accusing the poll body of manipulating voter rolls to benefit Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ruling party. The Election Commission, which oversees voting in the world’s most populous nation, has denied any wrongdoing.
“This is an absolute mockery of the justice system,” the movement’s legal affairs head Ratna Singh told reporters outside the hearing.
Cockroach Janta Party detention over Jantar Mantar protest
Ranka and Das were taken into custody on October 14 for their “alleged repeated attempts to disturb public peace and violate the law”, Delhi police said in a statement at the time.
The pair had jumped security barricades to wave the national flag at Jantar Mantar, a decades-old protest venue at the heart of the capital. Police also cited their “alleged attempts to instigate others through social media to engage in similar unlawful activities”.
Jantar Mantar has been sealed off with yellow metal barricades for more than a week and guarded by security personnel. Delhi police said last week they had removed the site from the list of designated protest venues, a decision with wide symbolic weight.
Why Jantar Mantar matters
For decades, Jantar Mantar was the go-to address for demonstrations in New Delhi, hosting protests by farmers, students and trade unions since the early 1990s. Its removal from the designated venues list followed a court ruling limiting protests at the historic observatory.
The Cockroach Janta Party movement, led by young activists, has made the site the centre of its campaign demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Artists performed a skit during a protest against the commissioner in New Delhi on Monday, organised by members of the Indian Youth Congress.
The dispute over voter rolls strikes at the heart of India’s democratic machinery. The Election Commission is responsible for conducting polls across the country, and opposition parties have repeatedly raised questions about the accuracy of voter lists. Feature Pakistan tracks India-related developments, including the latest news on India and Pakistan, as regional politics continue to unfold.
What happens next
With Ranka and Das now held for two more days, the movement’s legal team is expected to press for their release at the next hearing. Opposition parties have signalled they will continue to raise the voter-roll issue, keeping the pressure on the poll body.
Frequently asked questions
Who are the detained Cockroach Janta Party leaders?
Ashutosh Ranka, 30, and Saurav Das, 27, lead the youth-led Cockroach Janta Party movement. They were detained on October 14 and their detention was extended by two days on October 19.
Why were they detained?
Delhi police said they made “alleged repeated attempts to disturb public peace” after jumping security barricades to wave the national flag at Jantar Mantar, which police have sealed off and removed from the list of designated protest venues.
What is the movement demanding?
The movement demands the resignation of India’s Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, accusing the Election Commission of manipulating voter rolls to benefit the ruling party. The commission denies wrongdoing.
