CJP Live Updates: Saurav Das, Ashutosh Ranka Released From Tihar Jail; Delhi HC Hearing, CEC Protest
Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka were released from judicial custody on Wednesday, ending a courtroom battle that began with their detention during a protest at Jantar Mantar. The two had moved the Delhi High Court against the extension of their custody in an alleged peace bond violation case, before withdrawing their plea. The protests, demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, have drawn reactions from opposition leaders across the country. Follow live updates here.
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— 05:15 PM, 22 Oct 26|
Ankit Anand
CJP Live Updates: Delhi HC reserves verdict on Neha Bora's peace bond plea, order likely tomorrow
The Delhi High Court on Thursday reserved its verdict on AISA president Neha Bora's plea challenging the Delhi Police notice asking her to furnish a Rs 10,000 peace bond. The order is likely to be pronounced tomorrow. Bora has sought quashing of the notice and protection from coercive action by the police.
— 04:50 PM, 22 Oct 26|
Ankit Anand
CJP Live Updates: Delhi Police Notice to Neha Bora Issued After Independent Application of Mind, ASG Tells HC
Additional Solicitor General Chetan Sharma told the Delhi High Court that the peace bond notice issued to Neha Bora was sent after an independent application of mind by the Delhi Police. The statement was made during the hearing of Bora's plea challenging the Rs 10,000 bond notice.
— 04:48 PM, 22 Oct 26|
Ankit Anand
CJP Live Updates: Neha Bora Tells Delhi HC Citizens Do Not Need Permission to Hoist National Flag
During the Delhi High Court hearing of her plea against the Delhi Police peace bond notice, Neha Bora told the court that citizens do not need permission to hoist the national flag. Her submission came in response to the police notice that raised the flag-hoisting issue. Additional Solicitor General Chetan Sharma, appearing for Delhi Police, raised objections to her plea.
— 03:58 PM, 22 Oct 26|
Ankit Anand
CJP Live Updates: Delhi HC tells Delhi Police to take no action against Neha Bora till Tuesday
The Delhi High Court directed the Delhi Police to take no action against AISA president Neha Bora till Tuesday, while hearing her plea challenging the peace bond notice issued to her. The interim protection came during the hearing in which her lawyer Gopal Sankaranarayanan argued the notice was legally wrong. Bora has asked the court to quash the notice requiring a Rs 10,000 personal bond and to bar coercive action against her.
— 03:58 PM, 22 Oct 26|
Ankit Anand
CJP Live Updates: Neha Bora's lawyer tells Delhi High Court no permission was needed to hoist national flag.
Advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan told the Delhi High Court that AISA president Neha Bora needed no permission to hoist the national flag. The remark came during the hearing of Bora's plea challenging the Delhi Police notice asking her to execute a Rs 10,000 peace bond before a Special Executive Magistrate. The court is hearing whether the bond requirement was legally justified following Bora's detention during the October 16 protest.
— 03:44 PM, 22 Oct 26|
Ankit Anand
CJP Live Updates: Neha Bora tells Delhi High Court she was not involved in CJP's October 16 protest call
AISA president Neha Bora told the Delhi High Court that she had nothing to do with the CJP's October 16 protest call. The statement came during the hearing of her plea challenging the Delhi Police notice asking her to furnish a Rs 10,000 peace bond. She is seeking quashing of the notice and a direction that the police take no coercive action against her.
— 03:26 PM, 22 Oct 26|
Ankit Anand
CJP Live Updates: Neha Bora's lawyer calls Delhi Police peace bond notice 'constitutionally, legally wrong' in Delhi High Court
Advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan told the Delhi High Court that the Delhi Police notice asking AISA president Neha Bora to furnish a peace bond was "constitutionally, legally wrong". When the bench questioned the need to approach the court on a Saturday or trouble it on a Sunday, Sankaranarayanan said they would come back and trouble the court, citing their full faith in it. The court is hearing Bora's plea challenging the notice that asks her to execute a Rs 10,000 personal bond before a Special Executive Magistrate.
— 03:08 PM, 22 Oct 26|
Ankit Anand
CJP Live Updates: No Section 163 order in force at protest site, Bora's counsel tells Delhi High Court
Advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan told the Delhi High Court that no order under Section 163 of the BNSS was in force at the point where the protest began. He argued that the requirement to furnish a personal bond therefore did not legally arise. The police had conveyed the prohibitory order through loudspeakers, he said.
— 03:06 PM, 22 Oct 26|
Ankit Anand
CJP Live Updates: Neha Bora's lawyer calls her detention completely illegal, says no violence was incited
Neha Bora's lawyer told the Delhi High Court that she was detained just 10 to 15 minutes after reaching the Mandi House area. The counsel called the detention completely illegal, arguing that Bora had not incited any violence and had not breached the peace.
— 02:59 PM, 22 Oct 26|
Ankit Anand
CJP Live Updates: Delhi High Court starts hearing Neha Bora's plea against peace bond notice; Delhi Police raises objections
The Delhi High Court on Thursday began hearing AISA president Neha Bora's plea challenging the police notice asking her to furnish a peace bond before a Special Executive Magistrate. Additional Solicitor General Chetan Sharma raised preliminary objections on behalf of Delhi Police. Bora has challenged the Rs 10,000 personal bond notice issued after her participation in a march.
— 02:09 PM, 22 Oct 26|
Ankit Anand
CJP Live Updates: Saurav Das, Ashutosh Ranka skip Crime Branch questioning, seek more time
CJP leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka will not appear for questioning before the Delhi Police Crime Branch today, according to reports citing sources. The two leaders have requested more time. Delhi Police Crime Branch sources said a fresh notice is expected to be served on them.
— 01:51 PM, 22 Oct 26|
Ankit Anand
CJP Live Updates: INDIA bloc meeting on anti-CEC protest roadmap deferred, Kharge was to chair
The INDIA bloc's proposed virtual meeting on the future course of protests against CEC Gyanesh Kumar was deferred. The meeting was to discuss the roadmap for protests over the voter-roll issue and ways to press for the CEC's resignation. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge was to chair it, and it was also meant to review preparations for the INDIA bloc's Delhi rally on November 1.
— 01:42 PM, 22 Oct 26|
Ankit Anand
CJP Live Updates: INDIA bloc will fight denotification of Jantar Mantar, CPI's D Raja says
CPI General Secretary D Raja said the INDIA bloc discussed Jantar Mantar at its meeting and decided it must not allow the government to denotify the site. He asked where people would express dissent if the protest venue is taken away, and said the bloc will fight to restore Jantar Mantar for people's protests. D Raja added that he did not know what the CJP had given in writing or committed to, and the bloc would wait and see.
— 01:07 PM, 22 Oct 26|
Ankit Anand
CJP Live Updates: Delhi High Court to hear Neha Bora's peace bond plea at 2:30 PM today
The Delhi High Court is scheduled to hear on Thursday AISA president Neha Bora's plea challenging the notice directing her to execute a personal bond of Rs 10,000 and maintain peace. Justice Subramonium Prasad will hear the matter at 2:30 PM. Bora has sought quashing of the notice and a direction that the police take no coercive action against her.
— 12:36 PM, 22 Oct 26|
Ankit Anand
CJP Live Updates: Chirag Paswan says country cannot fall into hands of "anarchic thinkers"
Union minister Chirag Paswan on Thursday said the country cannot be allowed to fall into the hands of those with anarchic thinking, amid the controversy surrounding the protests by CJP leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka. A Special Executive Magistrate court ordered their release on Wednesday after they submitted written undertakings that they would maintain peace and not call for protests at Jantar Mantar as long as the site remains de-notified.
— 11:44 AM, 22 Oct 26|
Ankit Anand
CJP Live Updates: West Bengal minister Dilip Ghosh calls CJP's Gen Z movement a "huge scam"
West Bengal minister Dilip Ghosh on Thursday termed the Gen Z movement associated with the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) a "huge scam", and said anyone involved in illegal activities would be held accountable irrespective of the name under which they operate. He said the goals of those behind the movement were becoming clear from their actions, and that everyone knows who is behind them and what they want.
— 11:24 AM, 22 Oct 26|
Ankit Anand
CJP Live Updates: Prakash Raj, Parakala Prabhakar, Rakesh Tikait invited to Friday Delhi march against SIR
Economist Parakala Prabhakar, actor-activist Prakash Raj, farmer leader Rakesh Tikait and author Tushar Gandhi have also been invited to Friday's march in the capital demanding the removal of CEC Gyanesh Kumar and the scrapping of the SIR of electoral rolls. The protest is being organised by People Against SIR, an alliance of students, farmers and civil society groups formed a week ago. Marches are also planned in other parts of the country.
— 11:22 AM, 22 Oct 26|
Ankit Anand
CJP Live Updates: BJP accuses Annamalai of double standards on SIR after he slams crackdown on protests
The BJP on Wednesday hit back at former party leader K Annamalai over his criticism of the crackdown on the protests against the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls. Tamil Nadu BJP spokesperson Narayanan Thirupathy accused Annamalai of switching his stand, saying he had earlier defended the SIR as a way to remove fake voters but was now backing the concerns raised by the Congress and the CJP. Thirupathy also said Annamalai's questions blurred the line between peaceful protest and deliberate law-breaking. Annamalai had said he did not agree with all of the CJP's tactics but backed the group's right to protest, and alleged that those who raise their voice against the government could be jailed indefinitely or labelled anti-nationals.
— 9:59 AM, 22 Oct 26|
Ankit Anand
CJP Live Updates: Delhi High Court refuses to hear Saurav Das, Ashutosh Ranka custody plea, points them to sessions court
In a special hearing on Wednesday, the Delhi High Court declined to hear the CJP leaders' petition against the extension of their judicial custody, after their lawyer withdrew it. The court said the proper remedy was to challenge the magistrate's order before the sessions court, adding that personal liberty is sacrosanct but the prescribed legal procedure should be followed rather than approaching the high court directly. The judge told their lawyer Abhik Chimni that the remedy lay in revision and asked him to keep his arguments for the revisional court first and the High Court after.
— 10:33 AM, 22 Oct 26|
Ankit Anand
CJP Live Updates: BJP's Prakash Reddy calls Saurav Das, Ashutosh Ranka politically motivated, questions their Gen Z claim
BJP leader Prakash Reddy on Thursday criticised CJP leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka, calling them "politically motivated persons" and accusing them of misrepresenting themselves as Gen Z. Reddy questioned their claims of being political leaders, saying their party exists only on social media and is not a registered political platform. He also referred to the High Court's observation that Das and Ranka, aged 27 and 32, are not Gen Z, since the term covers those born after 1997.
— 11:04 AM, 22 Oct 26|
Ankit Anand
CJP Live Updates: Abhijeet Dipke, Neha Bora, Prashant Bhushan invited to Friday Delhi march demanding CEC Gyanesh Kumar's removal
CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke, student leaders Neha Bora and Aishe Ghosh, and senior advocate Prashant Bhushan are among the prominent figures invited to a march planned in the capital on Friday. The march is being called to "restore democracy", press for the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, and demand the scrapping of the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls. The live coverage notes that no police permission has been sought for the march.
— 10:22 AM, 22 Oct 26|
Ankit Anand
Das and Ranka's counsel tenders unconditional apology to court
During the hearing in the Jantar Mantar trespassing case, counsel for Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka tendered an unconditional apology to the court over the conduct cited by the Delhi Police. The lawyer assured the court that such conduct would not be repeated. The two were detained in connection with an October 13 protest at Jantar Mantar, which had been denotified as a designated protest site.
— 9:46 AM, 22 Oct 26|
Ankit Anand
INDIA bloc leaders to meet this evening on CEC row
Leaders of the INDIA bloc will meet through video conferencing on Thursday evening to discuss their strategy on the row involving Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, sources said. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge will chair the meeting. The meeting comes a day after CJP leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka were released from Tihar Jail.
— 9:37 AM, 22 Oct 26|
Ankit Anand
BJP attacks Rahul Gandhi over the protests
The BJP on Wednesday accused Congress leader Rahul Gandhi of hatching a conspiracy to bring about a "regime change" without elections. BJP leader Sambit Patra alleged that an attempt was being made to spread anarchy in the country, and claimed Gandhi had travelled abroad to receive guidance to destabilise India.
— 9:29 AM, 22 Oct 26|
Ankit Anand
Das and Ranka hold the national flag, say "Gyanu must go"
Hours after their release, Das and Ranka appeared in a video holding the Indian national flag and raised the slogan "Gyanu must go". CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke shared the video on Wednesday night. The two leaders reiterated their demand for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and said the campaign against the electoral roll revision would continue.
— 9:21 AM, 22 Oct 26|
Ankit Anand
Neha Bora's plea against peace bond notice to be heard today
The Delhi High Court will hear on Thursday the plea of AISA president Neha Bora challenging a Delhi Police notice that asks her to execute a peace bond before a Special Executive Magistrate. Bora, who has been at the forefront of the protests against the SIR of electoral rolls, has sought quashing of the notice and a direction that the police take no coercive action against her.
— 9:13 AM, 22 Oct 26|
Ankit Anand
Crime Branch summons Das and Ranka, asked to appear at 12 PM today
The Delhi Police Crime Branch has summoned CJP leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka to appear at its Rajouri Garden office at 12 PM on Thursday. The summons comes a day after the two were released from Tihar Jail. CJP national organisation in-charge Ajinkya Shinde has also been summoned, according to reports. The Crime Branch has taken over the Jantar Mantar trespass cases against the two leaders.
— 10:00 PM, 21 Oct 26|
Ankit Anand
Dipke hails Das and Ranka as "much, much bigger leaders"
CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke welcomed the release and called Das and Ranka "much, much bigger leaders" than himself. "Saurav and Ashu are not just better but much, much bigger leaders than me. Happy to follow your orders, my leaders. Jaan hazir hai!" he said in a social media post. The party's legal head Ratna Singh said the decision should have come earlier, but added that it was not too late.
— 9:00 PM, 21 Oct 26|
Ankit Anand
CJP says arrests were an attempt to intimidate the party
In a statement after the release, CJP said the events of the past few days, including what it called illegal arrests and detentions, showed an attempt to intimidate the party. The party said its campaign over the electoral roll revision would continue.
— 7:30 PM, 21 Oct 26|
Ankit Anand
SEM court orders release on Rs 50,000 bonds and undertakings
A Delhi Special Executive Magistrate court on Wednesday ordered the release of Das and Ranka from Tihar Jail, rejecting the police plea for three more days of custody. The court accepted personal bonds of Rs 50,000 each with surety bonds of the same amount, along with written undertakings to maintain peace and not to call protests at Jantar Mantar while the site remains de-notified. The next hearing in the case is on October 23 at 3 PM.
— 09:42 PM, 21 Oct 26|
Ankit Anand
CJP shares first picture of Das and Ranka after their release
The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) has shared the first picture of its leaders, Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka, following their release from judicial custody. The two leaders walked free on Wednesday after their custody ended and the special executive magistrate's court heard the matter.
The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) has shared the first picture of its leaders, Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka, following their release from judicial custody.
— 2:23 PM, 21 Oct 26|
Ankit Anand
Das and Ranka's counsels reach SEM court
Advocates Abhik Chimni and CJP legal affairs head Ratna Singh arrived at the special executive magistrate's court in Delhi, where the leaders' case was listed as their judicial custody ended on Wednesday.
— 1:42 PM, 21 Oct 26|
Ankit Anand
Neha Bora's plea to be heard tomorrow
AISA president Neha Bora's petition will be heard on Thursday at 10:30 AM. Her lawyer Abhik Chimni, who also represents Das and Ranka, told the court he had to rush to the hearing before the SEM court. Bora has challenged a Delhi Police notice asking her to furnish a personal bond of ₹10,000 and one surety to maintain peace during the period of inquiry, following her participation in a march.
— 1:36 PM, 21 Oct 26|
Ankit Anand
Das and Ranka withdraw their plea in Delhi High Court
Counsel for Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka informed the Delhi High Court that they wished to withdraw their petition against the extension of their judicial custody. The court allowed the withdrawal of the petition.
— 1:32 PM, 21 Oct 26|
Ankit Anand
'You are not Gen Z', court tells Das and Ranka
During the hearing, the court asked about the ages of the two petitioners. Advocate Abhik Chimni told the court that Saurav Das is 27 years old and Ashutosh Ranka is 32. The court then observed that the two are not from Gen Z, after being told that the term refers to people born after 1997.
— 1:26 PM, 21 Oct 26|
Ankit Anand
HC grants time to counsel to seek instructions
The Delhi High Court granted time to Das and Ranka's counsel to seek instructions on whether to withdraw the petition, allow the court to rule on the merits, or have the matter heard by the roster bench.
— 1:22 PM, 21 Oct 26|
Ankit Anand
Court questions procedure followed after bail bonds
The Delhi High Court questioned the leaders' lawyer Abhik Chimni about the procedure followed after their bail bonds were furnished and allegedly breached. The court observed that the petitioners had furnished bail bonds on October 11, the same day Jantar Mantar was de-notified as a designated protest site, and asked why the procedure prescribed under the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) for breach of bail bonds was not followed.
— 12:56 PM, 21 Oct 26|
Ankit Anand
Delhi HC pulls up Das and Ranka
The Delhi High Court, hearing the plea against their extended judicial custody, pulled up Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka, and pointed out that the SEM court was already scheduled to hear their case since their custody ends on Wednesday.
— 12:38 PM, 21 Oct 26|
Ankit Anand
Delhi HC begins hearing the custody plea
The Delhi High Court began hearing a plea by CJP leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka challenging a special executive magistrate's order extending their judicial custody in a case concerning an alleged peace bond violation.
— 12:04 PM, 21 Oct 26|
Ankit Anand
Neha Bora's plea also listed in Delhi HC today
The High Court was also scheduled to hear a petition by All India Students' Association (AISA) president Neha Bora, challenging a Delhi Police notice asking her to furnish a personal bond of ₹10,000 and one surety to maintain peace during the period of inquiry, following her participation in a flag march.
— 11:48 AM, 21 Oct 26|
Ankit Anand
Das and Ranka's plea listed in Delhi HC today
The Delhi High Court was set to hear a plea by the CJP leaders challenging the special executive magistrate's order extending their judicial custody in the alleged peace bond violation case.
— 11:40 AM, 21 Oct 26|
Ankit Anand
Odisha BJP attacks Patnaik for backing CJP leaders
Odisha's ruling BJP accused BJD chief Naveen Patnaik of seeking to create a "Bangladesh-like situation" in the country for political gains, after he demanded the immediate release of the two CJP leaders. In a post on its official X handle on Tuesday, the party alleged that Patnaik was supporting attempts at "regime change".
Former Tamil Nadu BJP president K Annamalai criticised the Delhi Police for what he called a "real disservice" in its actions against CJP protesters, and defended the group's democratic right to raise critical questions. He said he may not agree with all of the group's tactics or modes of protest, but firmly stands by the legitimacy of the questions they are raising. "Delhi Police is doing a real disservice. Arresting them and dragging them into jail will only make their leaders stronger," he said.
— 10:20 AM, 21 Oct 26|
Ankit Anand
'There is no justice', Das said as custody was extended
A court on Monday extended the judicial custody of Das and Ranka by two days. As Das left the court after the hearing, he shouted from a police van, "We're in an emergency. There is no justice. This is a police court and you see what is happening." He questioned the grounds on which the court had rejected their sureties.
— 9:43 AM, 21 Oct 26|
Ankit Anand
Akhilesh Yadav demands immediate release
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Tuesday demanded the immediate release of Saurav Das, Ashutosh Ranka and others, saying they had been detained unnecessarily. "Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka, and others who are currently imprisoned, should be released immediately. Neither our laws nor our Constitution permit this," he said, alleging that the BJP was exerting pressure to keep them behind bars.
— 9:33 AM, 21 Oct 26|
Ankit Anand
Dipke rejects comparisons with unrest in France and Nepal
CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke on Tuesday rejected comparisons between the outfit's protests against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and the violent unrest in France, Nepal and Bangladesh. He said Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka "went to jail happily" and chose "peace over hatred", following Mahatma Gandhi's path of satyagraha. "Have some shame and see what is happening in India. In India, Saurav Das and Ashutosh went to jail happily. They did not do what is happening in France," he said. In a separate Instagram livestream, Dipke said he was getting emotional because the two leaders could not be with their families during the festive season. "Some people will troll me for getting emotional. But my emotions are my strength. I do it because those two are my family. I care for them," he said.
Former West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee accused the Centre of perpetrating "state-sponsored terrorism" and "police-sponsored atrocities" after Das and Ranka's judicial custody was extended by two days, and demanded their immediate release. She alleged that the two convenors were being subjected to torture, and described the treatment of young people as a "threat to democracy". "I can understand the desperate motive to extend the custody of Ashutosh and Saurav. Stop torturing the boys and girls of Gen Z," Banerjee said in a post on X.
— 9:02 AM, 21 Oct 26|
Ankit Anand
Naveen Patnaik demands immediate release of CJP leaders
Former Odisha chief minister and BJD president Naveen Patnaik demanded the immediate release of Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka, and said their judicial custody must be urgently reviewed. "Hoisting the National Flag, even in a prohibited area, should not warrant such prolonged detention. The judiciary and the executive must rise to the occasion to ensure that the youth of this country do not lose faith in the rule of law and constitutional rights," Patnaik said in a post on X.
— 8:52 AM, 21 Oct 26|
Ankit Anand
Second case against Das and Ranka transferred to Crime Branch
Delhi Police has transferred another case against CJP leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka to the Crime Branch. With this transfer, the Crime Branch will now investigate two cases involving the CJP leaders. The first case, related to their alleged entry into the Jantar Mantar area, was handed over to the Crime Branch on Monday.
— 8:42 AM, 21 Oct 26|
Ankit Anand
Das and Ranka move Delhi HC against custody extension
CJP leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka approached the Delhi High Court on Tuesday, challenging a special executive magistrate's decision to extend their judicial custody in a case related to an alleged breach of a peace bond. The leaders had requested an urgent hearing on Tuesday, but the matter was not listed that day, and their legal team sought a hearing on Wednesday.
— 09:34 PM, 21 Oct 26|
Ankit Anand
Why Das and Ranka were jailed
The case is linked to the CJP's protests seeking the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. On October 11, Delhi Police withdrew Jantar Mantar's status as an authorised protest site, a decision that has been challenged separately in the Supreme Court and the Delhi High Court. On October 13, Das and Ranka visited Jantar Mantar carrying the national flag, and allegedly climbed over a locked gate to enter the site. They were taken into custody, and the special executive magistrate sent them to five days of judicial custody, citing concerns over a possible breach of peace. On October 19, the magistrate rejected their sureties, citing doubts about the sureties' ability to ensure the petitioners' compliance and discrepancies in identity documents, and their custody was extended by another two days. The controversy around the CEC intensified after a report said Election Commissioners had raised objections to decisions taken by the CEC on 14 occasions over a 10-month period. The Election Commission has maintained that all its decisions were unanimous.