New Delhi, Oct 2026 : Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday criticised the detention and judicial custody of Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) leaders following a protest at Jantar Mantar, describing the imprisonment of young demonstrators for waving the national flag as an “act of cowardice”.
The remarks came after CJP leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka were sent to five days of judicial custody on Wednesday in connection with a trespassing case at Jantar Mantar. Another party member, Ajinkya Shinde, was released on a personal bond.
Taking to X, Gandhi said peaceful demonstrations involving the national flag should not be treated as criminal acts and called for the protection of citizens’ constitutional rights.
“Waving the Tricolour at Jantar Mantar in a peaceful protest is not a crime. Jailing youth for it is an act of cowardice. Students. Youth. Journalists. The INDIA bloc. Different banners, one cause. All protests are one: citizens demanding their constitutional rights,” Gandhi wrote.
“Jantar Mantar belongs to the people of India. We will reclaim it,” he added.
The three CJP members were detained on Tuesday morning after allegedly crossing police barricades and entering Jantar Mantar, which was recently de-notified as Delhi’s designated protest site. Police registered cases involving trespassing, violation of bond conditions and obstruction of public officials in the discharge of their duties.
Das, Ranka and Shinde were produced before a magistrate at Mandir Marg in New Delhi on Wednesday morning. Following the proceedings, Das and Ranka were remanded to five days of judicial custody, while Shinde was released on a personal bond.
The case is linked to the party’s protest against the Election Commission of India (ECI) over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The demonstrators were reportedly raising slogans against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar when they attempted to cross the barricades.
The latest action follows an earlier case arising from the CJP’s October 10 protest. CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke, along with Das and Ranka, had been released after furnishing a bond of Rs 50,000, subject to the condition that they would not be involved in any breach-of-peace cases for one year.
Police have alleged that Das and Ranka violated the bond conditions, leading to the fresh charges and their treatment as repeat offenders.
Meanwhile, Delhi Police announced on October 12 that Jantar Mantar had been de-notified as a designated protest venue. The decision was taken following recommendations from a committee of the Union Home Ministry, and new guidelines were issued under Delhi Police Standing Order No. L&O/48/2026.
Under the revised arrangement, three locations have been designated for protests in the national capital: Ramlila Ground, Burari Ground and CBD Ground in East Delhi.
Gandhi’s remarks have brought renewed attention to the debate over access to public spaces for demonstrations and the balance between citizens’ right to peaceful protest and police enforcement of public-order regulations.
While the police action centres on alleged trespassing and violation of bond conditions, Gandhi has framed the matter as an issue of constitutional freedoms and the right of citizens to express dissent peacefully.
(Disclaimer :The content of this article is sourced from a news agency and has not been edited by the Mavericknews30 team.)
