CJP leaders Saurav Das, Ashutosh Ranka move Delhi HC against judicial custody

Co-organizers CJP Saurav Das (unseen) and Ashutosh Ranka appear outside Mandir Marg Police Station for bail hearing in New Delhi on October 19, 2026. Photo credit: ANI

Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) co-organizers Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka approached the Delhi High Court challenging the extension of their judicial custody, arguing that their further detention is illegal.

Mr. Das and Mr. Ranka sought a night hearing in the high court, which is closed this week for the Dussehra holiday.

The High Court is likely to take up the petition for hearing on Wednesday (October 21, 2026).

We moved the Delhi High Court and asked for an urgent night hearing. Saurav and Ashutosh should not spend a single minute behind bars. Their freedom must not be curtailed for political games. Justice must not wait. @Ccocorachisback

— Ratna Singh (@whattalawyer) October 20, 2026

The newly appointed special executive magistrate at the Mandir Marg police station on Monday (October 19) extended their judicial custody by two days after they were produced before him.

Mr. Das and Mr. Ranka were taken into custody on October 13 for allegedly climbing over a locked gate to enter Jantar Mantar, which had been designated as a protest site. They were initially remanded in judicial custody for five days.

In their petition, the CJP officials challenged the magistrate’s order saying that it violates the prescribed legal procedure and their fundamental right to personal liberty under Article 21 of the Constitution.

They claimed to have remained in custody for six days despite having produced the required guarantees several times.

CJP leaders also questioned the justification for their continued detention on grounds of public order. Their plea states that any restriction of liberty must be supported by a real and immediate nexus with a disturbance of public order, and not a remote possibility of such a disturbance.

The petitioners argued that a protest at a place which had been designated as a designated place of protest would at most raise a question of compliance and would not in itself pose a threat to public order.

Mr. Das and Mr. Ranka were among the CJP workers who unfurled the national flag at Jantar Mantar and raised slogans against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar before they were detained and remanded in custody on October 13.

Published – 20 Oct 2026 18:14 IST