Video: CJP's Saurav Das, Ashutosh Ranka jump gate to sneak into Jantar Mantar, detained

The CJP leaders' group entered the area from the side of the Janata Dal (United) office premises near Jantar Mantar. Police subsequently detained those who had entered the site. Delhi Police may also register an FIR in connection with the incident.

In Short

• Delhi Police took Ajinkya Shinde and other supporters into custody too
• Ashutosh Ranka shared a video showing supporters scaling the gate
• Saurav Das raised slogans during detention, calling it a message to youth

Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka were detained by Delhi Police on Tuesday after they jumped over a gate to enter Jantar Mantar, a site that has now been denotified as a designated protest venue by the authorities. CJP worker Ajinkya Shinde was also detained along with other supporters.

Ranka posted a video clip on X before being detained, showing him, Das and other CJP supporters entering the premises by jumping over a gate. He captioned the video, "Hands Off Jantar Mantar!"

According to the details available, the group entered Jantar Mantar from the side of the Janata Dal (United) office premises near the protest site. Police subsequently detained all those who had entered the area.

Das also posted a video on X showing him and his supporters raising slogans of "Inquilab Zindabad" and "Bharat Mata ki Jai" as police detained them. In his post, he declared that Jantar Mantar had been reclaimed and described the entry as a message to the younger generation.

"JANTAR MANTAR HAS BEEN RECLAIMED! WE HAVE ENTERED JANTAR MANTAR AND NOW WE ARE BEING DETAINED! But this is a message to all of us young gen! We can do it! Gyanu, you’re done bro!" Das wrote.

Das had arrived at Jantar Mantar with some associates before the group attempted to enter the site. He was taken into custody again by Delhi Police.

Police may also register an FIR in connection with the incident. However, there was no immediate confirmation of whether an FIR had been filed.

The detentions come a day after Delhi Police denotified Jantar Mantar as a designated venue for protests and demonstrations, naming three alternative sites for such gatherings. The order partially modifies an earlier standing order dated April 28, 2022, which had designated Jantar Mantar as a protest venue. The police said revised standard operating procedures governing protests at the three alternative sites would be issued separately.

The denotification move came amid a standoff between the CJP and Delhi Police over permission for a peaceful demonstration at Jantar Mantar against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the SIR process.

On Monday, CJP leaders left Parliament Street police station reiterating their demand for a date for the proposed protest and an explanation for the denial of permission.

CJP chief spokesperson Saurav Das said the party had formally informed the police of its intention to hold a peaceful demonstration and that the police had accepted the intimation. However, he alleged that no date had been provided and no explanation given for the restrictions.

"We have given them 24 hours to give us a date," Das said, warning that the party would announce a march if the police failed to respond within the deadline.

Das also accused the police of using excessive force during a recent crackdown on protesters, alleging that demonstrators had been beaten inside buses. He further claimed that the Deputy Commissioner of Police and Additional DCP had avoided speaking to the CJP delegation.

"The Government of India is waging a war on its own citizens," Das said, adding that the party would continue to protest peacefully.

- Ends