Several opposition figures voiced objections on Wednesday after Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka of the Cockroach Janta Party were placed under five days of judicial custody following their presence at Jantar Mantar, with a number of those leaders calling on authorities to release the two men and arguing that the move placed restrictions on the right to peaceful assembly.
The arrests came after authorities removed Jantar Mantar from the roster of sites where public gatherings are permitted — a decision that coincided with a period in which the CJP and affiliated groups had been staging repeated protests urging Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar to resign over what they characterised as procedural irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.
Bhattacharya, who serves as general secretary of CPI(ML) Liberation, told reporters that Das, Ranka, and their associate Ajinkya Shinde had entered Jantar Mantar to register opposition to the de-notification order, after which authorities took the three into custody and a court subsequently placed them under judicial remand on counts of criminal trespass and non-compliance with official directives.
In a social media post, Bhattacharya characterised the measures taken against the activists as punishment for their protest activity, and put forward the view that the administration holds both an aversion to public demonstrations and a disregard for constitutional protections — noting further that Jantar Mantar has historically served as Delhi's primary open-air space for civic gatherings, and that its de-notification, together with the subsequent actions against those involved, pointed to that same underlying aversion.
CPI general secretary D. Raja characterised the detention and judicial custody of Das and Ranka as running counter to democratic norms, arguing that remanding the two individuals on allegations of trespassing at a location that had until recently held official status as a protest venue amounted to targeted harassment. He further contended, in attributed remarks, that the administration appeared to be moving to restrict public demonstrations and suppress dissenting voices out of concern over widespread public discontent.
On the platform X, Raja posted a message questioning why mobilising against what he characterised as an undemocratic directive should carry criminal liability, and added a call for the two individuals to be released without delay. He announced that both political and legal avenues would be pursued to contest the de-notification of Jantar Mantar, noting that the All India Students' Federation and the All India Youth Federation had already marched on the site to assert the right to hold demonstrations there, with plans to broaden that effort going forward.
RJD parliamentarian Manoj Jha also objected to the detentions, asking what offence the activists were actually alleged to have committed. His arrival at Jantar Mantar drew attention. Jha described the situation as one he found deeply troubling, in remarks made to a television news outlet.
Speaking to the crowd, Jha framed Jantar Mantar as a public space belonging to every citizen, urged authorities to uphold the right to protest, and said that all who take to the streets to raise their concerns act in solidarity with one another. Protesters and advocates present argued that Jantar Mantar is a public space that rightfully belongs to all citizens, a view directed at those with authority over such decisions.
TMC parliamentarian Mahua Moitra argued that gathering at Jantar Mantar for the purpose of protest does not constitute conduct warranting criminal liability. Some critics argued that the Supreme Court's continued silence on the matter amounts to an abdication of its responsibility to uphold constitutional protections.
Both Das and Ranka were brought before a special executive magistrate on Wednesday, after which a five-day judicial custody order was issued and the two were taken to Tihar Jail, according to Delhi Police. A six-month peace-and-good-behaviour obligation was placed on Shinde, who walked free after furnishing a personal bond alongside a surety of Rs 5,000.
According to police, the three activists along with 11 fellow CJP members gained access to the Jantar Mantar area on Tuesday by passing through private property without authorisation, and are alleged to have interfered with officers carrying out their official duties. Formal charges were filed and those taking part in the demonstration were taken into custody.
Bonds committing Das and Ranka to keep the peace for twelve months had been put in place by the time of their Saturday detention, according to police sources. At Jantar Mantar, members of the CJP leadership raised the national flag and led chants that included "Bharat Mata Ki Jai" and "Jai Bhim."
