The Shocking Truth Of The Cockroach Janta Party Arrest

Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) leaders Saurav Das, Ashutosh Ranka, and Ajinkya Shinde were detained by the Delhi Police on Tuesday morning after they jumped the locked security gates of Jantar Mantar. The activists, who were carrying the Indian national flag, breached the perimeter to protest against Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar. This incident occurred just days after authorities officially removed Jantar Mantar from the list of designated protest sites in the national capital.

What Happened?

On the morning of October 13, 2026, the CJP leaders arrived at Jantar Mantar with a group of supporters. A video shared on social media showed the party’s chief spokesperson, Saurav Das, national spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka, and organisation in-charge Ajinkya Shinde climbing over the locked iron barricades to enter the venue. Police personnel deployed at the site immediately intervened and took them into custody.

While being detained, the leaders raised slogans and stated that their demonstration would continue until the Chief Election Commissioner steps down from his post.

Why Is This Issue in the News?

This development is part of a massive, ongoing political standoff in New Delhi regarding the preparation of voter lists. The CJP, along with several major opposition parties, has been demanding the resignation of CEC Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the process.

The situation escalated significantly over the weekend when police initiated a major security clampdown. Thousands of protesters, including prominent opposition leaders like Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Arvind Kejriwal, Mamata Banerjee, and Pinarayi Vijayan, were preventively detained to stop a large-scale march to Jantar Mantar. Following these massive protests, the Delhi Police officially de-notified Jantar Mantar as a protest venue.

What Does "SIR" Mean?

The core of the dispute involves the "Special Intensive Revision" (SIR).

Special Intensive Revision (SIR) is the official process used by the Election Commission to check, update, and correct electoral rolls (voter lists) to ensure no eligible voter is left out and duplicate names are removed. Protesting parties allege that there have been massive, deliberate irregularities in this ongoing process, while the Chief Electoral Officer's office has stated that logical discrepancies are actively being resolved.

What Did the Government and Police Say?

The Delhi Police stated that Jantar Mantar is no longer a designated protest site. According to official notices, the decision to de-notify the venue was based on recommendations made by a Union Home Ministry committee. Following a Supreme Court directive asking authorities to identify suitable alternative sites with basic facilities for protesters, the police have now designated Ramlila Maidan, Burari Ground, and CBD Ground in Shahdara as the official alternative venues for demonstrations.

What Did the CJP and Political Parties Say?

The Cockroach Janta Party has strongly opposed the restriction. CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke questioned the police action regarding the detentions, stating that party workers had arrived peacefully with the national flag. In a social media post, Dipke stated, "You cannot denotify the resistance," asserting that Jantar Mantar represents a spirit of protest that cannot be taken away by an administrative order.

“You cannot denotify the resistance.”

What Happens Next?

The detained CJP leaders have previously faced preventive custody. Just three days prior, on October 10, Das, Ranka, and Dipke were detained directly from an airplane upon landing in Delhi and were later released by an executive magistrate with an order to "maintain peace for 1 year". With the fresh breach of barricades, the police have registered multiple First Information Reports (FIRs) concerning the breaking of barricades during the recent protests.

1. 10 October

   Das, Ranka, and Dipke were detained from an airplane upon landing in Delhi and later released by an executive magistrate.

2. Over the weekend

   Police initiated a security clampdown; Jantar Mantar was then de-notified as a protest venue.

3. 13 October

   CJP leaders jumped the Jantar Mantar gates and were detained.