Delhi Police places three Cockroach Janta Party members under preventive arrest

UPDATE - follow-up to CJP legal head says Delhi Police arrested Saurav Das, Ashutosh Ranka in Jantar Mantar case: Delhi Police placed three Cockroach Janta Party members under preventive arrest on Wednesday, following an earlier protest breach at Jantar Mantar. The arrests involve party figures Saurav Das, Ashutosh Ranka, and Ajinkya Shinde, according to statements from CJP legal head Ratna Singh.

Detainee Status

Ms. Singh stated via social media that the three individuals were brought to the Parliament Street Police Station at three in the morning inside a private van. Legal counsel was reportedly denied access to the detained members until late at night. The charges brought against them include trespassing, bond violations, and obstructing public officials from performing their duties.

Legal Proceedings

Authorities planned to present the trio before the Sub-Divisional Executive Magistrate at the Mandir Marg Police Station within an hour of the notification, with a possibility of judicial custody in Tihar Jail. This development stems from an FIR filed on Tuesday after members entered the heavily barricaded protest zone without official clearance and shouted slogans calling for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. According to the Hindustan Times, law enforcement clarified that these actions constitute a preventive arrest.

Context

Jantar Mantar in New Delhi has historically served as a central hub for public demonstrations and political gatherings before its recent status change. When protest sites are denotified or restricted by local authorities, police often enforce strict rules regarding entry permits and assembly limits.