Delhi Police Crime Branch questions CJP leaders over Jantar Mantar protest

Delhi Police Crime Branch officers questioned senior leaders of the Cockroach Janata Party for roughly four hours on Thursday in connection with an unlawful demonstration at Jantar Mantar last month.

Party co-conveners Ashutosh Ranka and Saurav Das, accompanied by Ajinkya Shinde, arrived at the Crime Branch office in Rajouri Garden around 11 am. Investigators put about 70 questions to the group concerning the breach of security cordons and unauthorized entry into the restricted zone on 13 October. Police officials indicated that several queries went unanswered before the session concluded at 3 pm.

What happened at Jantar Mantar

The inquiry stems from two First Information Reports registered at Connaught Place and Parliament Street police stations. Authorities had denotified Jantar Mantar as an authorised protest location to preserve public order and security across New Delhi’s central institutional zone, directing public demonstrations to designated grounds at Ramlila Maidan, Burari, and the CBD Ground in east Delhi.

Despite clear restrictions and heavy police barricading, party members forced their way through private premises onto the site to stage a protest against the Election Commission over electoral roll revisions. Das and Ranka were arrested at the scene for trespassing and violating peace bonds previously executed before an executive magistrate. Both spent seven days in judicial custody at Tihar jail before securing release on 21 October on ₹50,000 personal and surety bonds, accompanied by written undertakings not to assemble unlawfully at the denotified venue.

Foreign funding allegations

The questioning coincides with heightened scrutiny over external support behind sudden protest mobilisations. Union Minister of State Jitendra Singh voiced serious national security concerns this week, alleging that unauthorised foreign sources, deep-state networks, and overseas donors have financed campaigns intended to destabilise domestic political discourse. Singh specifically pointed to financial connections between US-based donors and party founder Abhijeet Dipke, while alleging cross-border Pakistani political support linked to Ranka.

Both Das and Ranka rejected the allegations as baseless, questioning why senior government representatives had previously held discussions with their delegation during student demonstrations in July if illicit financing was suspected.

Confidence in official probe

Emerging from the Crime Branch office, Ranka adopted a cooperative tone toward the ongoing legal proceedings, affirming his trust in the administrative and investigative process.

"Today, there was a very routine investigation, regarding the events of October 13th," Ranka said. "We have stated, and continue to reiterate, that we will fully cooperate with any investigation, regardless of which agency is conducting it. We are confident that all ongoing investigations will be conducted fairly and with genuine intent."

Police officials are continuing their scrutiny of the protest's logistical backing and the violations of magistrate undertakings.