CJP Leaders Challenge Judicial Custody Extension in Delhi High Court

Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka have approached the Delhi High Court challenging a Special Executive Magistrate’s decision to reject their sureties and extend their judicial custody until October 21, 2026. The petition challenges the legality of their continued detention and raises concerns about personal liberty, procedural fairness and the exercise of preventive powers by executive authorities. The two leaders were detained on October 13 following a protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi. The demonstration reportedly took place after the site was removed from the list of designated protest venues. Protesters raised slogans demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over allegations of irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The Election Commission has denied allegations of political bias in the revision process. Following their detention, Das and Ranka were produced before a Special Executive Magistrate and remanded to judicial custody for five days on October 14. Their custody was subsequently extended by another two days on October 19, keeping them in Tihar Jail until October 21.