Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) co-convenors Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka walked out of Tihar Jail on October 21, after spending days in judicial custody over an attempted Tiranga protest at Jantar Mantar. The Special Executive Magistrate’s order bringing their detention to an end followed an earlier decision to extend their custody by two days after rejecting the sureties furnished on their behalf.
The case began with a mobilisation against alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and demands for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Das and Ranka were among those who attempted to stage the protest at Jantar Mantar after the site had been de-notified as a designated protest venue. According to The Indian Express, the group entered the site by climbing over a locked iron gate, unfurled the national flag and raised slogans before being detained.
What followed was a series of preventive proceedings under Sections 126 and 170 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), culminating in the leaders’ remand to judicial custody on October 14. Their detention continued even after the defence furnished sureties, with the Special Executive Magistrate finding those sureties unacceptable and directing the two leaders to produce fresh ones.
On October 21, Special Executive Magistrate Ritu Raj ordered their release after they furnished personal bonds and surety bonds of ₹50,000 each and submitted written undertakings promising not to call for protests at Jantar Mantar until the site is notified as a designated protest venue in accordance with law.
The sequence raises serious questions about the use of preventive powers against political mobilisation: two leaders remained in custody after their sureties were rejected, while the subsequent order found that bonds and written undertakings could adequately secure the maintenance of peace.
पूरे देश में खुशी की लहर है क्योंकि सौरभ दास और आशुतोष रंका जेल से छूट गए हैं। https://t.co/E8kJNHXdkr
— Cockroaches of India (@CJP_for_India) October 21, 2026
All smiles ❤️✌️ https://t.co/LeTLoFtf92
— Ratna Singh (@whattalawyer) October 21, 2026
#WATCH | Delhi: CJP leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka are being taken from Mandir Marg Police Station after the SEM Court has ordered their release.
They were produced before the SEM Court after 2 days in judicial custody. https://t.co/eaNnewdW13
— ANI (@ANI) October 21, 2026
Delhi: Delhi Police’s Crime Branch has issued summons to CJP leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka, directing them to appear at its Rajouri Garden office to record their statements.
(Visuals from outside the Crime Branch office) https://t.co/VBdVZx9Fla
— IANS (@ians_india) October 22, 2026
Congratulations to the entire team of @Cockroachisback!
And as always, kudos to Abhik Chimni, Pranjal, Moksha & their entire team!
— Neha (@neha_aisa) October 21, 2026
A big shoutout to Advocate Abhik Chimni and his entire team, including Pranjal Abrol, Moksha Sharma , and Kartik Venu, for their invaluablesupport.
Heartfelt thanks to Advocates Abhisht Hela, Pushp Sharma and Angad for handling SEM court since day one.
Advocate Shivangi Sharma for standing by me and helping me.
Last but certainly not least, my sincere gratitude to the seniors (& their teams) in the profession who guided us with their valuable legal-inputs and instructions.
— Ratna Singh (@whattalawyer) October 21, 2026
Sureties rejected, custody extended by two days
The immediate circumstances of the extended detention are central to the case. On October 19, after the initial five-day period of judicial custody ended, the Delhi Police sought a further five days of custody, alleging that the two leaders had violated peace bonds executed on October 11 by mobilising people for protests at Jantar Mantar and other non-designated locations.
The Special Executive Magistrate extended their custody by two days, until October 21, while rejecting the sureties produced by the defence. The order cited an apparent mismatch between one surety’s photograph on the bond and the photograph on their Aadhaar card. In the case of the other surety, the magistrate recorded that the person could not provide satisfactory answers to basic questions, including details of Das’s parentage and address.
The magistrate concluded that the sureties had no sufficient control over the two leaders to ensure their appearance before the court. The order also stated that the leaders had allegedly breached their earlier bonds and that their assurance that they would not repeat the conduct did not inspire confidence.
As reported by The Indian Express, the magistrate relied on police submissions concerning the likelihood of a breach of peace and disturbance of public tranquillity. The defence, however, disputed the basis for continued detention, arguing that the two leaders had made no fresh calls for protests after October 10 and had gone to Jantar Mantar individually.
Their counsel, advocate Abhik Chimni, also questioned the rejection of the sureties and the continued detention. The defence sought their release and maintained that there was no concrete basis to conclude that they posed an ongoing threat to public safety.
The rejection of the sureties meant that the two leaders remained in judicial custody until the next hearing, despite the defence’s efforts to secure their release. The two-day extension came after the police had sought a longer period of detention.
Release comes with an undertaking not to call protests
On October 21, the police again sought a three-day extension of judicial custody, arguing that apprehensions of a breach of peace persisted in light of the leaders’ statements and subsequent conduct. The prosecution also cited remarks allegedly made by an associate while the two were being taken to Tihar Jail, claiming that the comments undermined the authority of the Special Executive Magistrate’s court. Chimni tendered an unconditional verbal apology and assured the court that such conduct would not recur.
The magistrate declined to prolong their custody, holding that the preventive measures contemplated under Section 135(3) BNSS could be adequately secured through bonds for keeping the peace, supported by the written undertakings furnished that day.
The undertakings were specific. Das and Ranka promised not to commit any breach of peace and stated that they would not make calls for protests at Jantar Mantar until the site is notified as a designated protest venue in accordance with law. They also expressed faith in the judiciary and undertook that any protest they undertook would remain within the constitutional framework.
The magistrate directed the two leaders to furnish personal bonds and surety bonds of ₹50,000 each and ordered their release after being satisfied with the sureties. A release warrant was issued to the Superintendent of Central Jail, Tihar. Both leaders were directed to appear at every hearing and comply strictly with the conditions of their bonds and undertakings.
The matter is listed for further proceedings on October 23 at 3 PM.
The complete order may be read below:
Detailed piece may be read here.
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