Delhi Police: Saurav Das, Ashutosh Ranka Skip Jantar Mantar Case Summons

• CJP leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka did not appear for Delhi Police Crime Branch questioning on October 22, 2026, requesting more time.
• The summons relates to a criminal investigation into alleged trespass and disobedience of a government order during an October 13 Jantar Mantar protest.
• Two FIRs were registered under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, citing provisions for house-trespass, criminal conspiracy, and obstructing a public servant.
• The leaders were previously released from Tihar Jail on October 21 in preventive proceedings, distinct from the current criminal charges.
• The Delhi High Court had raised concerns about 'regime change' remarks and protest escalation during a prior hearing where the leaders withdrew a custody challenge.

The current summons represents a distinct criminal investigation, separate from the preventive proceedings that led to their recent release from custody.

Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka, prominent leaders of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), did not appear for questioning before the Delhi Police Crime Branch on October 22, 2026, after being summoned to join an investigation into a protest at Jantar Mantar. The leaders requested additional time from the authorities. The Delhi Police Crime Branch had issued summons earlier that day, requiring Das, Ranka, and their associate Ajinkya Shinde to report for the investigation by 12 PM.

The summons pertains to allegations of trespass and disobedience of a government order related to their attempt to reach Jantar Mantar. Police sources indicate that a fresh notice is anticipated to be served to Das and Ranka. The current summons represents a distinct criminal investigation, separate from the preventive proceedings that led to their recent release from custody. The Delhi Police Crime Branch is actively pursuing this investigation, which was transferred to its Inter State Cell on October 19.

The criminal investigation focuses on alleged violations of a government order and trespass. These charges stem from an incident on October 13, when Das, Ranka, Shinde, and other CJP members were detained. They reportedly entered the Jantar Mantar area, which had been officially de-notified as a protest site just one day prior. According to the Delhi Police, the protesters gained access by trespassing through private property and subsequently obstructed police personnel in the performance of their duties.

Two First Information Reports (FIRs) were lodged concerning the incident, one at the Connaught Place police station and another at the Parliament Street police station. These FIRs invoke provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (BNS), specifically including sections related to house-trespass, criminal conspiracy, and obstructing a public servant. The Connaught Place FIR, for instance, cites Section 223A (disobedience to an order duly promulgated by a public servant), Section 332 (house-trespass to commit an offence), and Section 61(2) (criminal conspiracy) of the BNS. The summons for the current Delhi Police Crime Branch investigation relates to these serious criminal charges.

Prior to these summons, Das and Ranka had been released from Tihar Jail on October 21. A Special Executive Magistrate (SEM) at Mandir Marg police station had ordered their release, declining the Delhi Police's request for an additional three days of judicial custody. This release occurred within the context of preventive proceedings, following the leaders' written undertakings to maintain peace. Notably, Ajinkya Shinde was not held in judicial custody with Das and Ranka; he was previously bound down to ensure peace and good behavior for six months, released on a personal bond and a surety of Rs 5,000.

The transfer of the criminal cases against Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka to the Inter State Cell of the Delhi Police Crime Branch on October 19 underscores the seriousness with which authorities are treating the Jantar Mantar protest case. This transfer took place shortly after a newly appointed SEM had extended their judicial custody by two days in separate proceedings concerning an alleged breach of their peace bonds. Their judicial custody was set to conclude on October 21, necessitating their re-production before the SEM.

On October 21, the CJP leaders also withdrew a plea challenging their judicial custody before the Delhi High Court. During that hearing, the Court had expressed concerns regarding 'regime change' remarks and the potential for protest escalation. The ongoing Delhi Police Crime Branch investigation, particularly its focus on alleged trespass and disobedience of a government order under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, highlights the evolving legal landscape for protest cases in the capital. The expectation of a fresh notice for Das and Ranka indicates the police's intent to continue their investigation despite the leaders' initial non-appearance.

Lawyers should observe the procedural aspects of police summons and investigation in high-profile protest cases, particularly the application of new criminal code provisions under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 for alleged trespass and disobedience of government orders. This case highlights the implications of non-compliance with police directives and the interplay between preventive proceedings and ongoing criminal investigations.

Source: Original reporting via ANI and Crime Branch sources