NEW DELHI: Barely a day after their release from Tihar Jail, Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka have been summoned by the Delhi Police Crime Branch in connection with the October 13 Jantar Mantar protest.
The two have been directed to appear at the Crime Branch office in Rajouri Garden at 12 noon on October 22, to record their statements. CJP’s national organisation in-charge, Ajinkya Shinde, has also been summoned. The summons concern a trespassing complaint lodged by the Janata Dal (United), whose office adjoins the Jantar Mantar protest site.
The complaint relates to the October 13 incident in which Das, Ranka and other CJP members allegedly entered Jantar Mantar through private premises after crossing barricades. They unfurled the national flag and raised slogans against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
Two FIRs were subsequently registered. FIR No. 289/2026 at Connaught Place Police Station invokes Sections 223(a), 332 and 61(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), concerning disobedience of public orders, house trespass and criminal conspiracy.
FIR No. 128/2026 at Parliament Street Police Station invokes Sections 221, 115(2), 132, 121(1) and 3(5) of the BNS, concerning obstruction and alleged assault on public servants, causing hurt and common intention.
Both cases were transferred to the Crime Branch earlier this week for further investigation.
The summons come a day after Special Executive Magistrate Ritu Raj ordered the release of Das and Ranka on personal and surety bonds of Rs 50,000 each.
In written undertakings submitted on October 21, both leaders promised to maintain peace and public tranquillity. They also assured the magistrate that they would not call for further demonstrations at Jantar Mantar while it remains de-notified as a protest site.
The Crime Branch investigation is separate from the preventive detention proceedings before the SEM, which remain pending. The next hearing before the magistrate is scheduled for October 23.
