High-voltage drama unfolded at Delhi’s iconic Jantar Mantar on Tuesday after Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka, accompanied by numerous supporters, scaled the boundary gates to enter the restricted premises. Taking swift action following the breach, the Delhi Police detained both leaders along with party worker Ajinkya Shinde and other demonstrators.
The incident occurred shortly after the authorities officially denotified Jantar Mantar as a designated public protest site. Law enforcement officials are actively considering the registration of a First Information Report (FIR) against the violators for trespassing into the restricted zone. Reports indicate that the group forced their entry into Jantar Mantar from the side adjacent to the Janata Dal (United) party office.
Moments prior to their detention, Ashutosh Ranka uploaded a video clip to social media platform X (formerly Twitter) showing himself, Saurav Das, and party supporters climbing over the iron gates, captioning the footage: “Hands Off Jantar Mantar!” Concurrently, Saurav Das shared another video from the scene capturing the group chanting patriotic slogans, including “Inquilab Zindabad” and “Bharat Mata ki Jai,” as police moved in to take them into custody.
In his accompanying statement, Das proclaimed that the protest site had been “reclaimed,” describing their actions as a message to the younger generation and issuing a direct remark aimed at Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, declaring that his tenure was coming to an end.
The confrontation follows directly on the heels of the Delhi Police’s recent administrative decision to revoke Jantar Mantar’s status as a designated demonstration site. Partially amending a previous standing order issued on April 28, 2022, the police notified three alternative venues for future public demonstrations. The dramatic breach occurred just one day after the enforcement of these revised protocols.
The standoff stems from persistent disagreements between the CJP and Delhi Police over securing official permission for a peaceful demonstration targeting Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process.
On Monday, CJP representatives gathered outside the Parliament Street Police Station, demanding that authorities allocate a confirmed date for their demonstration or formally state the grounds for refusing clearance. CJP Chief Spokesperson Saurav Das alleged that formal notice for a peaceful gathering had been duly accepted by the police, yet no date was assigned nor any justification provided for the denial. Issuing a 24-hour ultimatum, Das warned that the party would mobilize a major protest march if authorities failed to respond.
Additionally, he accused law enforcement personnel of employing excessive force against demonstrators inside transport buses during previous detentions and alleged that senior police officials avoided meeting their formal delegation, stating that the party remains committed to continuing its peaceful demonstrations.
