K Annamalai cautions Delhi Police over CJP custody after Jantar Mantar protest

Former Tamil Nadu BJP president K Annamalai has cautioned that the prolonged detention of Cockroach Janta Party leaders will only strengthen their agitation, urging authorities to ensure strict adherence to legal norms while maintaining public order.

Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Annamalai questioned the Delhi Police's handling of CJP co-convenors Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka, who were remanded to extended judicial custody after staging an unauthorised demonstration at Jantar Mantar.

While explicitly distancing himself from the demonstrators' methods, Annamalai maintained that the administrative issues they brought forward concerning the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls warranted standard governance responses rather than protracted detention.

"I may not agree with many of the CJP's modes of protest. I may not agree with some of the antics of CJP," Annamalai said. "That's a different argument. But I completely support CJP in terms of the questions they want to raise. It is for the government to answer."

He warned that aggressive police action risked backfiring against institutional stability. "To arrest them for a violation and again to drag them in terms of how they spend their time in jail, that is only going to make the leaders of CJP stronger. I'm afraid of it. The Delhi Police are doing a real disservice," he added.

Unauthorised protest at Jantar Mantar

The dispute stems from an agitation on 13 October 2026, when CJP activists gathered near Jantar Mantar demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged roll discrepancies. Delhi Police detained the participants after they allegedly breached security barriers and scaled gates to enter the complex, which has been de-notified as an authorised protest site to preserve civic peace and security in central Delhi.

Police officials stated that demonstrators entered through adjoining private premises and obstructed officers on duty. Following the initial detention, the case was transferred to the Delhi Police Crime Branch for detailed investigation into organised public mobilisation over social media.

On Monday, a Special Executive Magistrate extended the judicial custody of Das and Ranka by two days. The magistrate's order noted that the organisers showed "no respect for law" after calling for gatherings at prohibited venues.

High Court petition over procedural compliance

Following the magistrate's decision, legal representatives for Das and Ranka approached the Delhi High Court seeking an urgent hearing during the Dussehra court recess. Their petition argues that the extension order violated procedural protections under the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, asserting that valid sureties had been tendered.

CJP legal affairs head Ratna Singh stated on social media that personal liberty should not be compromised. As he was led from court on Monday, Das also claimed the proceedings were arbitrary.

During his remarks in Tamil Nadu, Annamalai noted that as India's global stature and civilisational standing expand, public institutions must uphold exemplary standards of governance and transparency. He also addressed national delimitation discussions, noting that lawful consultations and fairness toward southern states that managed population growth would strengthen federal consensus and democratic stability.