Top Indian ‘cockroach’ leaders sent to jail over Jantar Mantar protest site trespassing

Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) spokespersons Saurav Das (centre) and Ashutosh Ranka (right) walk out from a police station as they seek approval for a protest demanding the resignation of India’s Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged voter roll irregularities linked to the ‘special intensive revision’ (SIR), in New Delhi October 12, 2026. — AFP pic

First Published: Wednesday, 14 Oct 2026 1:40 PM MYT

NEW DELHI, Oct 14 — Two top leaders of India’s youth-led Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) were sent to jail for five days today for alleged trespassing, the party said.

Ashutosh Ranka and Saurav Das “have been sent to five days judicial custody”, CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke said in a social media post.

Das and Ranka were detained yesterday for entering Jantar Mantar, a day after Delhi Police announced that the Jantar Mantar street in the heart of the capital had been taken off the list of designated official protest sites.

A video posted online by Dipke yesterday showed the duo clambering over barricades at Jantar Mantar street, running into an empty space and waving the national flag — before police chased and detained them.

Supporters of the online movement and opposition parties have taken to the streets in recent days, demanding the resignation of the head of India’s election commission, accusing it of manipulating voter rolls to benefit Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ruling party.

The Election Commission of India, which oversees the voting process in the world’s most populous nation, has denied any wrongdoing.

The site has been sealed off for several days by yellow metal barricades and guarded by a heavy police presence.

Dipke today defended Das and Ranka, saying they were being punished just for “unfurling tricolour at Jantar Mantar.