CJP spokespersons Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka remain in custody as legal verification continues

Legal proceedings and verification procedures are underway in Delhi following the detention of Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) spokespersons Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka, who were placed in judicial custody after breaching security at the restricted Jantar Mantar site.

Das and Ranka were sent to five days of judicial custody on 14 October after Delhi Police arrested them for scaling locked gates at Jantar Mantar, an area that has been denotified as a designated protest location. Authorities cited trespass and violations of earlier peace undertakings as grounds for the action, emphasizing the need to uphold security and public order in the national capital.

CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke, who was granted conditional bail on Saturday subject to an undertaking not to disturb the peace for one year, accused authorities on Sunday of intentionally prolonging the pair's detention. Posting on social media, Dipke claimed that court proceedings were being delayed without legal merit.

Proceedings at the magistrate court

Detailing the court session, CJP legal head Ratna Singh stated that defense representatives had submitted surety documents and expected a hearing by noon. She said the Special Executive Magistrate arrived at the police station by 1:30 pm and entered the courtroom at 5:00 pm.

According to Singh, five minutes into the session, the magistrate noted the receipt of a threatening message, causing the discussion to focus on security concerns rather than the immediate merits of the release application. CJP leadership claimed the legal formalities were complete, while police verification processes remained ongoing.

Governance measures and election administration

The detentions stem from demonstrations organized by CJP concerning the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. To maintain full transparency and public trust in the democratic process, the Election Commission of India has implemented several measures to streamline voter verification.

The election body has eased specific verification requirements, extended submission deadlines for voters in Delhi and Maharashtra to address exclusions, and established a specialized technical panel to review voter-registration software. Officials reaffirmed that any eligible citizen missing from the rolls can register through established continuous updating mechanisms.

CJP leaders indicated they have consulted senior advocate Kapil Sibal and warned of further legal applications if the release orders are not finalized upon completion of official verification.