Story perspectives

Cockroach Janta leaders jailed for trespassing at Jantar Mantar

By Drooid · Oct 14, 2026, 10:01 AM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

Cockroach Janta Party leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka were placed in judicial custody for trespassing at Jantar Mantar.
A magistrate ordered the custody on Wednesday, October 14, 2026.
Police charged them with trespassing, bond violation and obstruction of a public official’s duty.
The Ministry of Home Affairs de-notified Jantar Mantar as a protest site on October 12, 2026.

History

Historical Context

During India’s 1975 Emergency, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi suspended civil liberties, ordered the arrest of over 1.3 million opposition activists, and banned public assemblies. The Ministry of Home Affairs enacted the 1975 Public Order Act, empowering police to detain demonstrators without warrant, causing 2,000 Delhi arrests that year. On October 14 2026, Jantar Mantar leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka were placed in custody after Ministry of Home Affairs de-notified the site, mirroring the Emergency’s crackdown. The recurrence suggests that de-notifying historic protest grounds may revive authoritarian precedents, prompting civil-society groups to demand clearer legal safeguards.

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Story summary

Cockroach Janta Party leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka were placed in judicial custody for trespassing at Jantar Mantar.
A magistrate ordered the custody on Wednesday, October 14, 2026.
Police charged them with trespassing, bond violation and obstruction of a public official’s duty.
The Ministry of Home Affairs de-notified Jantar Mantar as a protest site on October 12, 2026.

1 / 2