CJP Leaders Sent to Judicial Custody as Protests Against Election Body Intensify Nationwide

UPDATE - follow-up to Anti-CEC protest LIVE: Delhi police detain IYC members near Parliament Street police station; SFI, DYFI continue protest near Jantar Mantar: Cockroach Janata Party leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka were sent to five days of judicial custody in Tihar Jail on Wednesday following a trespassing case. An FIR was registered against them for criminal trespass, breach of bond, and disobedience of orders after Jantar Mantar was de-notified as a protest site on Monday. A third member, Ajinkya Shinde, was released on a personal bond. Political leaders and public figures strongly condemned the arrests. Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi stated that political and public resistance will continue, while Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin offered DMK legal support for the detained leaders. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee also criticized the detentions as an attempt to silence the youth. Actor Prakash Raj and commentator Abhijeet Dipke posted statements questioning the police action against individuals carrying the national flag. Meanwhile, the Ramlila Maidan venue has no free dates for the next two and a half months, with only December 29, 30, and 31 open for booking. More than 100 youth, labour, and farmers' organisations announced a nationwide agitation for October 23, 2026, demanding the rollback of the Special Intensive Revision, the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, and an audit of deleted voter names.

Context

Jantar Mantar has long served as Delhi's principal public protest venue before recent administrative de-notification measures restricted demonstrations there. Major political rows over election commission policies and voter list revisions frequently draw coordinated coalitions of student unions, farmer groups, and opposition parties into street demonstrations across the capital.