Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka have been taken into judicial custody, and now Arvind Kejriwal has issued a statement on the matter. Both Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) leaders, Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka, have been remanded to five-day judicial custody by the Delhi Police. The detentions have sparked a political uproar in Delhi. Meanwhile, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener and former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has raised serious questions about the police action and issued a sharp response. Former Delhi Chief Minister Kejriwal responded on his social media platform, X, asking, “Is hoisting the national flag now a crime in our own country? Will one be arrested for hoisting the national flag?” Kejriwal called the detention of CJP leaders “utterly absurd” and “an act of self-imposed cruelty.” This matter relates to the protests at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar and the police action.
What was Kejriwal’s response?
Both CJP leaders, Sourav Das and Ashutosh Ranka, have been sent to judicial custody. Following their detention, Arvind Kejriwal reacted and criticized the action. He asked, “Is hoisting the tricolor a crime?” He raised serious questions about this right, stating that hoisting the flag in one’s own country should not be considered a crime. He further stated that the action taken in this case is completely absurd. Following Kejriwal’s statement, members of the CJP have also questioned and strongly criticized the action. Kejriwal’s statement is being widely shared on social media, and CJP supporters are also criticizing it.
Both leaders sent to five-day judicial custody
According to reports, both CJP leaders, Sourav Das and Ashutosh Ranka, have been sent to five-day judicial custody. They were produced before the Special Executive Magistrate on Wednesday, October 14, 2026. Following the hearing, both CJP leaders were remanded to judicial custody for five days. They have been placed in Tihar Jail and will remain there for five days. Meanwhile, their associate, Ajinkya Shinde, was also detained in connection with the case. According to DND,
Following the detention of the two leaders, CJP supporters have expressed strong displeasure over the action, claiming that this is being done to suppress the fight for rights. Meanwhile, the police maintain that the incident is not limited to the hoisting of the tricolor, but that many other things occurred during the protest that are against the law.
What is the full story regarding the protest at Jantar Mantar?
This matter began when a complete ban was imposed on demonstrations at Jantar Mantar in Delhi. However, according to reports, CJP leaders protested demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, despite the ban being imposed. They were subsequently detained.
Police allege that the protesters resorted to illegal means, crossed barricades, entered an area where protests were not permitted, and disrupted the atmosphere. According to officials, Jantar Mantar had been removed from the protest list, yet they continued to raise slogans there. Therefore, they have been detained.
The police also stated that the CJP leaders were responsible for maintaining peace, and the conditions were in place. However, they disrupted the peace and violated all rules. Based on this, action was taken against them and they have been detained.
