Cockroach Janta Party Leaders Sent to Five-Day Custody After Jantar Mantar Protest

Delhi Police sent Cockroach Janta Party leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka to five days of judicial custody on Wednesday, October 14, 2026. They will be lodged in Tihar Jail following an FIR for trespassing, breach of bond, and disobedience of orders. A third member, Ajinkya Shinde, was released on a personal bond. The arrests followed a protest where members waved the Indian national flag and raised slogans at Jantar Mantar. Jantar Mantar was de-notified as a designated protest site on October 12 under an order issued by Commissioner Anurag Kumar.

Reactions And Fallout

Cockroach Janta Party founder Abhijeet Dipke alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was imposing an unofficial emergency, questioning why waving the national flag at Jantar Mantar led to five days in custody. CJP legal head Ratna Singh stated that lawyers had not yet received a copy of the FIR filed at Connaught Place police station. Meanwhile, Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi stated that the Congress respects the judiciary while political resistance continues. Union Home Minister Amit Shah responded by criticizing the opposition's reach and crowd-mobilization efforts.

Venue Shortage

Following the de-notification of Jantar Mantar, demonstrations have been shifted to three alternative venues including Ramlila Ground, CBD Ground, and Burari Ground. Officials stated that Ramlila Maidan, the 12-acre ground with a 50,000-person capacity, has no free dates for the next two and a half months. Only December 29, 30, and 31 remain open for booking. The daily booking rate is fifty thousand rupees, plus a refundable security deposit of fifty-five thousand rupees, bringing the initial outlay to one lakh twenty-one thousand rupees including taxes.

Context

Jantar Mantar has served as a central hub for public demonstrations and protests in New Delhi for decades before recent police orders restricted gatherings there. The shifting of protest venues to alternative sites like Ramlila Maidan highlights tightening rules around public demonstrations in the capital.