India
CJP Co‑Conveners Appear Before Delhi Police Crime Branch Over Jantar Mantar Protest
By HT News Desk
Co‑conveners Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) appeared before the Delhi Police Crime Branch on Thursday to answer questions about the October 13 protest at Jantar Mantar. After the questioning, Ranka said the party would cooperate with the investigation and expressed confidence that the probe would be conducted fairly. He described the interrogation as a routine investigation into the events of October 13 and reiterated that displaying the national flag at Jantar Mantar or on a public road should not be considered a crime.
The appearance follows the CJP’s protests against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. Ranka and Das had been sent to judicial custody last month after breaching Jantar Mantar, a de‑notified protest site, and waving the tricolour there. They were released after a seven‑day custody period and had signed a written notice not to call for protests at Jantar Mantar until it is notified as a designated protest venue.
Ranka also responded to accusations from Union Minister Jitendra Singh that CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke and Ranka received foreign funding. He questioned why government officials had previously met and interacted with CJP members if foreign funding was alleged, and criticized the government for focusing on foreign‑funding allegations while ignoring issues such as unemployment, exam paper leaks and alleged voter manipulation.
The two leaders were arrested on October 13 after attempting to enter Jantar Mantar, which had been denotified as an authorised protest site the day before. They entered the barricaded premises, unfurled the national flag and raised slogans including ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’ and ‘Inquilab Zindabad’. They were charged with trespassing and violating a peace bond signed on October 11. After furnishing personal and surety bonds of ₹50,000 each, they were released from Tihar jail on October 21. The cases were transferred to the Delhi Police Crime Branch, which summoned them for questioning.