After seven days in judicial custody, CJP leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka walked free on October 21. A Special Executive Magistrate released them on ₹50,000 bonds after they promised not to call protests at Jantar Mantar.
Updated: October 22, 2026, 11:30 AM IST
Quick Read
- A Special Executive Magistrate (SEM) at Mandir Marg ordered the release of Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka on October 21, after 7 days in judicial custody.
- Both gave written undertakings: no breach of peace, and no protest calls at Jantar Mantar while it stays de-notified. Personal and surety bonds of ₹50,000 each.
- Earlier the same day, they withdrew their petitions from the Delhi High Court challenging the custody extension.
Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka — co-conveners of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), a new political outfit — walked out of Tihar Jail on Wednesday evening, holding the national flag, after a Special Executive Magistrate in New Delhi ordered their immediate release (The Hindu, Oct 21).
Why were they in custody?
The two were sent to judicial custody on October 14, a day after their “Lehra Do Tiranga” protest at Jantar Mantar against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls — a drive they allege deleted voters’ names (The Hindu; Mathrubhumi).
The charge was an alleged breach of peace bonds. Jantar Mantar is no longer a permitted protest site (explained below), and the two were accused of entering the restricted site and violating peace bonds signed earlier in the month. They were first given five days of custody, extended by two more days on October 19 — seven days in all (Tribune).
What “de-notified” means, in plain words
Jantar Mantar used to be Delhi’s official protest spot — the one place where the government said, “protest here.” “De-notified” means the government has taken that label away. It is no longer a designated protest site, so calling or holding a protest there is now treated as a law-and-order problem, not a right being exercised at the right place. That single change is the whole legal basis of this case.
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The release: what the court said
The duo was produced before the SEM at Mandir Marg police station as their extended custody expired. Their written undertakings, given before ACP Ritu Raj acting as the SEM, said they would maintain “peace and tranquillity,” would “not make any calls for protest at Jantar Mantar till such a time that it is de-notified in accordance with law,” and that any protest would be done “within the four corners of the Constitution” (Hindustan Times).
The magistrate accepted the undertakings and ordered release on personal bonds and surety bonds of ₹50,000 each, holding that “further incarceration was no longer warranted” once the bonds and undertakings secured the peace (Hindustan Times). The inquiry into the alleged breach will continue — the two and their sureties must appear before the court at 3 PM on October 23 (Tribune).
The High Court turn
Earlier on Wednesday, Das and Ranka withdrew their petitions from the Delhi High Court, where they had challenged the extension of their custody. The Indian Express reports they took back the plea after the court pointed out they had breached an earlier peace bond and had an alternative legal remedy available. Mathrubhumi adds that Justice Subramonium Prasad asked them to first see what the magistrate decided at the 2 PM hearing — which is where the release order came from.
Reactions
CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke celebrated on X: “Saurav and Ashu are not just better but much, much bigger leaders than me… Jaan hazir hai!” — adding a playful line that after this, no one should walk in the garden without him (The Hindu). AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal also welcomed the release, saying the entire nation stands with them (Indian Express). After walking out, Das himself said simply: “Truth has triumphed” (Tribune).
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The legal fight is not over, though. Today (October 22), the Delhi Police’s Crime Branch has summoned Das, Ranka and Ajinkya Shinde for questioning. The next court date is tomorrow, October 23, at 3 PM. Release is not acquittal — the breach-of-peace-bond case continues.
FAQs
Why were Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka arrested?
They were detained on October 14 for allegedly entering Jantar Mantar — now a de-notified (restricted) protest site — and violating peace bonds signed earlier, a day after their “Lehra Do Tiranga” protest.
What did they promise the court to get released?
A written undertaking: no breach of peace, and no calls for protest at Jantar Mantar while it remains de-notified. They also furnished personal and surety bonds of ₹50,000 each.
Is the case over?
No. The inquiry into the alleged breach of peace bonds continues, with the next hearing on October 23 at 3 PM, and the Crime Branch has summoned them for questioning on October 22.
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