CJP Leaders Skip Delhi Crime Branch Questioning in Jantar Mantar Protest Case

Yugcharan News / 22-10-2026

Three leaders associated with the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) did not appear before the Delhi Police Crime Branch on Thursday after being summoned for questioning in connection with an alleged unauthorised protest held at Jantar Mantar on October 13. The leaders—Saurav Das, Ashutosh Ranka and Ajinkya Shinde—requested additional time to join the investigation, according to The Indian Express.

The development came a day after a Special Executive Magistrate’s court ordered the release of Das and Ranka from judicial custody. Their release followed the submission of personal and surety bonds of Rs 50,000, along with written undertakings to maintain peace and comply with the law.

The case concerns a protest at Jantar Mantar, where demonstrations had reportedly been restricted after the site was denotified as a designated protest location. Delhi Police have taken over the investigation into cases related to alleged trespass at the site and summoned the CJP leaders as part of the inquiry.

Leaders Seek Additional Time to Join Probe

According to the report, Das, Ranka and Shinde were asked to appear before the Delhi Police Crime Branch on Thursday. However, none of the three appeared at the scheduled time, and they sought additional time to participate in the investigation.

Police were preparing fresh notices following their absence, the report said. The next stage of the inquiry is expected to proceed in accordance with the notices issued by investigators.

The summonses relate to the October 13 protest at Jantar Mantar, which led to police action against the CJP activists. The investigation is focused on the circumstances surrounding the demonstration and the alleged violation of restrictions at the protest site.

The leaders’ decision to seek more time does not, by itself, establish that they intend to avoid the investigation. Their response, as reported, was a request for additional time to join the inquiry.

The Crime Branch’s questioning is part of the ongoing police investigation, and the facts surrounding the alleged unauthorised protest remain subject to the legal process.

Court Orders Release of Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka

The latest development followed a court order on Wednesday directing the release of Das and Ranka from judicial custody. The Special Executive Magistrate accepted their personal and surety bonds of Rs 50,000 each, alongside written undertakings concerning their conduct.

Under the undertakings, the two leaders agreed to maintain peace and refrain from organising protests at Jantar Mantar while the site remains denotified. The court also directed the leaders to comply with the law.

Their release marked a change in their custodial status, but it did not bring the investigation into the October 13 incident to an end. The police inquiry continued, with the Crime Branch subsequently summoning the leaders for questioning.

The court has scheduled the next enquiry hearing for October 23, according to The Indian Express. The proceedings are expected to address the continuing inquiry and the leaders’ obligations under the court’s directions.

The distinction between release from custody and the conclusion of an investigation is important in this case. The order allowing Das and Ranka to leave custody was accompanied by conditions, and the police investigation into the protest remains ongoing.

Jantar Mantar Protest at Centre of Investigation

Jantar Mantar in New Delhi has long been associated with public demonstrations and political protests. However, the legal status of the site and the conditions under which demonstrations may be held are central to the current case.

According to the report, the October 13 protest was held after Jantar Mantar had been denotified as a designated protest site. The police action that followed led to cases involving alleged trespass and the detention of CJP activists.

The investigation is now being handled by the Delhi Police Crime Branch following the transfer of the relevant cases. The summonses issued to Das, Ranka and Shinde form part of the police effort to question those associated with the demonstration.

The case raises questions about compliance with restrictions on public gatherings and the legal procedures that apply when a demonstration takes place at a location where protests are not authorised. At the same time, the allegations must be assessed through the evidence collected by investigators and the subsequent legal proceedings.

The available report does not provide a complete account of all the evidence in the case or the detailed arguments presented by each side. It therefore remains necessary to distinguish the allegations under investigation from any final determination of responsibility.

Further Police Action Expected

The Crime Branch’s next steps are likely to depend on the notices issued to the three leaders and their response to the investigation. Police had begun preparing fresh notices after the leaders failed to appear on Thursday, the report said.

The court’s October 23 hearing will also be an important date in the continuing proceedings. Das and Ranka have been directed to comply with the conditions attached to their release, including maintaining peace and not organising protests at Jantar Mantar while its current status remains unchanged.

The case is unfolding across two related tracks: the police investigation into the October 13 protest and the legal proceedings governing the leaders’ release and subsequent appearance. The court’s directions and the Crime Branch’s inquiry will determine how the matter progresses.

For now, the principal development is that all three CJP leaders did not attend the scheduled Crime Branch questioning and sought more time to join the probe. The police are preparing fresh notices, while the investigation into the alleged unauthorised protest continues.