Jantar Mantar breach: Delhi cops file FIR against CJP's Saurav Das, Ashutosh Ranka

Delhi Police filed an FIR after CJP leaders and workers allegedly entered Jantar Mantar without authorisation. The case also invokes an alleged peace bond breach as the outfit challenges the site's denotification.

In Short

• FIR cites unauthorised entry and alleged breach of earlier peace bond
• CJP activists entered the barricaded site seeking CEC Gyanesh Kumar's resignation
• Das, Ranka and several members were detained for violating prohibitory orders

Delhi Police has registered an FIR against Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) leaders Saurav Das, Ashutosh Ranka and other members for allegedly entering the Jantar Mantar area without authorisation, officials said on Tuesday.

A police source said the FIR includes sections related to the alleged breach of a peace bond signed by the three leaders earlier.

The action came hours after CJP activists entered the heavily barricaded protest site and raised slogans demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar. Jantar Mantar was recently denotified as a designated protest site.

CJP MEMBERS DETAINED AFTER ENTERING JANTAR MANTAR

Das, Ranka and a few other CJP members were detained early Tuesday for allegedly entering the area in violation of prohibitory orders. According to the outfit, around 11 of its members were detained.

A police officer said the detained protesters were taken to Jaffarpur Kalan Police Station in Delhi's Dwarka district. Security was stepped up in and around the police station after some CJP workers gathered there.

CJP founder Dipke described the group's action as an attempt to reclaim Jantar Mantar. He asserted that the denotification of the protest site would not deter the outfit from continuing its agitation.

LEADERS WERE RELEASED ON CONDITION OF MAINTAINING PEACE

Dipke, Das and Ranka were also detained on Saturday after arriving in Delhi amid a major security clampdown that prevented the outfit from holding its protest demanding Kumar's resignation.

They were released a day later on the condition that they would not breach peace for a year.

DELHI POLICE NOTIFIES NEW PROTEST SITES

Delhi Police Commissioner Anurag Kumar issued a standing order on October 11 designating Ramlila Maidan, Burari Ground and CBD Ground as the new sites for protests and demonstrations.

The CJP said the announcement about Jantar Mantar's denotification came on October 12, the same day its representatives approached Parliament Street Police Station to seek a date and time for a peaceful demonstration at the site.

The outfit has criticised the move, arguing that shifting protests away from the political centre of the national capital would weaken the visibility of public dissent.

The latest detentions come amid heightened security in New Delhi following protest calls by various organisations demanding Kumar's resignation over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

- Ends
With PTI inputs