CJP Leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka Released from Custody
The Cockroach Janta Party celebrates the release of its leaders after a week in judicial custody following protests.
Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka were released after their judicial custody expired.
CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke praised them as 'much bigger leaders' than himself.
The legal head of CJP criticized the delay in their release and expressed hope for future liberty.
On October 21, 2026, the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) announced the release of its leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka, following a ruling by the Special Executive Magistrate. The decision came after the leaders had spent a week in judicial custody related to a protest that took place on October 14 at Jantar Mantar. CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke expressed his admiration for Das and Ranka, stating they are 'much, much bigger leaders' than himself and expressed his readiness to follow their leadership.
The legal head of CJP, Ratna Singh, remarked that the release should have occurred sooner. Das and Ranka were initially detained for allegedly violating peace bonds at the protest site, with their custody extended by two days on October 19. Singh noted that the police had requested a further five-day extension, citing a supposed imminent threat, which the defense team contested, arguing there was no basis for such an assumption.
In a social media post, Dipke shared a photograph of the two leaders, referring to them as 'my leaders.' He also humorously urged them not to wander alone in the garden without him, showcasing a light-hearted camaraderie within the party. Singh emphasized the emotional state of the CJP team, eager to reunite with their leaders after a prolonged separation.
Singh also addressed the Delhi High Court's earlier observations regarding the case, clarifying that while the judge was entitled to express an opinion, CJP did not necessarily concur with it. She reiterated that the focus was on securing the release of Das and Ranka, which had been the team's primary objective throughout the week.
Looking ahead, Singh expressed hope that future detentions would not occur over technicalities or issues related to sureties. The release order for Das and Ranka has been issued, and the CJP team is optimistic about reuniting with their leaders soon, marking a significant moment for the party and its supporters.
