Three leaders of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), Abhijeet Dipke, Ashutosh Ranka, and Saurav Das, were released on Sunday after appearing before an executive magistrate in Delhi. Their release came with a specific condition: they must maintain peace and good behavior for a period of one year.
The CJP leaders had been placed under preventive arrest on October 10, 2026, upon their arrival in the national capital. This detention occurred just ahead of a major planned protest by the CJP at Jantar Mantar.
Details of the Arrest and Release
Delhi Police confirmed the preventive arrests were made under Sections 126 and 170 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS). Following due legal procedures, the three leaders were produced before the SEM Court in Delhi Cantt on October 11, 2026.
CJP legal affairs head Ratna Singh confirmed the release, stating that a bail bond, specifically a surety bond of ₹50,000, was filed for each leader. This bond serves as a guarantee for their commitment to peace and good behavior over the next 12 months.
Context of the Protest
The arrests and subsequent release are part of a larger movement by the CJP and various opposition parties. These groups have been vocally demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Their demand stems from alleged irregularities identified in the Special Intensive Revision of voter rolls.
Ashutosh Ranka, one of the released leaders, had previously expressed strong sentiments on social media, stating his willingness to face jail time to see what he termed as "traitors" removed from office, specifically referencing Gyanesh Kumar.
Wider Clampdown and Continued Protests
The detentions of Dipke, Das, and Ranka were not isolated incidents. Saturday saw a significant security clampdown across Delhi, with over 7,000 protesters reportedly detained at multiple locations to prevent them from reaching Jantar Mantar.
Several prominent opposition figures, including former chief ministers Arvind Kejriwal, Mamata Banerjee, Pinarayi Vijayan, and Manik Sarkar, were also detained while attempting to join the demonstrations. Despite the arrests and heavy police presence, the CJP has reiterated its call for a protest at Jantar Mantar, with authorities anticipating the deployment of more than 30,000 police and paramilitary personnel across the city.