Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) activists Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka, who were in jail for the past seven days, were released on Wednesday (October 21, 2026) after a Special Executive Magistrate (SEM) court in Delhi accepted their sureties and granted them bail.

Also read | Delhi High Court questions CJP leaders over breaking barricades to enter Jantar Mantar

Assistant Commissioner of Police Ritu Raj, presiding over the proceedings as the SEM, issued orders for their release despite Delhi Police seeking a three-day extension of their judicial custody, citing law and order concerns, even as the counsel for the CJP activists challenged the legality of their continued detention.

The two were released after submitting an undertaking before the SEM court that they would not call for any protest at Jantar Mantar as long as it remains a denotified protest site. They assured the court that they would not engage in any activity that would breach peace and expressed “full faith in the judiciary and all its instruments, including the learned SEM.” The next hearing in the matter is on October 23.

The police pointed out the conduct of the other members of the CJP during the hearing. “....the conduct of the other members of the Respondents as a consequential effect of the statement given by them while en-route to Tihar Jail, on the last date of hearing, wherein she has given a media byte undermining the Majesty of the SEM Courts,” police said.

In response, counsel for Mr. Das and Mr. Ranka made a verbal unconditional apology to the court and assured that such conduct shall not be repeated in future.

Delhi Police detained the two activists on October 13 for entering the barricaded protest area at Jantar Mantar by climbing over its gates. They were remanded to five days of judicial custody on October 14, which was extended by two days on October 19.

While extending their judicial custody on Monday, the SEM court expressed concerns that their actions could disturb public peace and questioned their regard for the law. It rejected their initial sureties, deeming them unsuitable.

Mr. Das and Mr. Ranka had also approached the Delhi High Court on Tuesday (October 20) seeking an urgent hearing, which was denied.

The matter was heard by the Bench of Justice Subramonium Prasad on Wednesday (October 21), where the petitioners were questioned for allegedly breaking a barricade to enter Jantar Mantar, the denotified protest site.

“The challenge to the denotification (of Jantar Mantar) is pending in the Supreme Court. Now, when you go there and you break a barricade... the chances of 10 or 20 more people in violation of Section 163 BNSS, is (sic) very bright. Again, I’m not saying good, bad, indifferent,” the judge remarked while observing that authorities could demand stricter proof from individuals accused of breaching peace after violating a bond.

The judge said police permission for protests serves not only to regulate gatherings but also to prevent unwanted individuals from joining and damaging their reputation. He cited examples of student protests abroad that escalated into arson and looting.

During the hearing, the court also asked the petitioners’ counsel about their ages. After being told that they were 27 and 31, the judge questioned whether they could be classified as ‘Gen Z’.

“Because in the first protest in July-August, students were there. But now, it’s another cause. People remain the same; the cause is changing. Next question will be: who are you, what are you? What is your association? What is the purport of your association?” the court remarked.

The judge explained that, “when there is a question of breach of peace, all these questions will assume imporCase transferred to Crime Brach

The plea was later withdrawn after the court advised them to await the SEM’s decision and approach the appropriate appellate or revisional forum if necessary.

Meanwhile, the Delhi Police on Tuesday (October 20) transferred two cases against Mr. Das and Mr. Ranka to the Crime Branch, citing their sensitive nature and the need for an impartial investigation.

The FIRs against them were registered on October 13 at the Connaught Place and Parliament Street police stations after 14 CJP members allegedly entered the Jantar Mantar through private premises and obstructed police personnel. The cases include charges of trespass, criminal conspiracy, assault, and obstruction of public servants.

Police also initiated preventive proceedings against Mr. Das, Mr. Ranka, and Ajinkya Shinde, another CJP activist, alleging repeated threats to public order and attempts to encourage similar activities through social media.

While Mr. Ranka and Mr. Das were sent to judicial custody allegedly for violating an earlier signed peace bond, Mr. Shinde was released after signing a bond. So far, the police have not taken any action against the remaining 11 members.

(With inputs from Soibam Rocky Singh and Lavpreet Kaur)