The order followed their arrest on Tuesday after CJP activists entered the barricaded protest venue despite police restrictions. Authorities accused the leaders of trespassing, breaching previously executed peace bonds and obstructing public officials performing their duties.
CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke marked Ranka’s birthday with a message on social media platform X, expressing solidarity with his detained colleague and alleging that police had repeatedly obstructed access to legal counsel since Tuesday morning.
The party’s allegations concerning restrictions on lawyers meeting the detained activists have not been independently established. Police have maintained that the arrests followed violations of restrictions imposed on demonstrations at Jantar Mantar.
Ranka and Das were transferred to Tihar Jail following proceedings before an executive magistrate. Their detention represents a further escalation in the confrontation between the youth-led political organisation and Delhi Police over access to one of the capital’s established demonstration venues.
Another CJP activist, Ajinkya Shinde, who was detained alongside them, was released after executing a fresh peace bond. Authorities distinguished his position from those of Ranka and Das, who had previously undertaken to maintain public peace.
The CJP legal team indicated that it would challenge the custody order and seek bail for the two leaders. Lawyer Abhish Thela questioned the grounds for police intervention, arguing that the authorities had initiated proceedings without a complaint from an affected private party.
The dispute centres on the government’s decision to remove Jantar Mantar from the list of designated protest locations. The change, announced on Monday, followed demonstrations demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over allegations concerning electoral roll revisions.
CJP activists rejected the restriction and entered the area early Tuesday, carrying the national flag and raising slogans. Police subsequently detained Ranka, Das, Shinde and several other participants after they crossed security barriers surrounding the venue.
Police alleged that some activists gained access through premises adjoining the protest site. Their actions were treated as violations of the restrictions governing public gatherings and of conditions imposed following earlier detentions.
The authorities had designated alternative locations for demonstrations, including Ramlila Ground, Burari Ground and CBD Ground. CJP leaders maintained that removing Jantar Mantar’s status as a protest venue amounted to an unacceptable restriction on political expression.
Dipke criticised the decision and argued that restrictions on a particular location could not prevent citizens from organising demonstrations elsewhere. His statements formed part of the party’s continuing campaign against the Election Commission’s handling of electoral roll revisions.
The confrontation followed extensive police action during demonstrations planned for October 10, when CJP leaders were detained after arriving in Delhi. Dipke, Ranka and Das were among those taken into custody as authorities sought to prevent gatherings around Jantar Mantar.
They were subsequently released under conditions requiring them to maintain public peace. The authorities relied on those earlier undertakings when initiating proceedings following Tuesday’s confrontation.
The CJP has accused the Election Commission of allowing irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls and has demanded Kumar’s resignation. The Election Commission and the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party have rejected allegations that the revision exercise was manipulated for political advantage.
The disagreement over electoral administration has drawn opposition parties into demonstrations demanding greater transparency and accountability. Police have defended restrictions on gatherings as measures necessary to maintain public order and prevent disruption in sensitive areas of the capital.
The CJP’s national working committee was expected to consider its response to the custody order, while party representatives prepared legal applications seeking the release of Ranka and Das.
The judicial proceedings have also placed attention on the distinction between preventive police detention and custody authorised by a magistrate. Wednesday’s order moved the two activists from police detention into judicial custody for a specified period.
Supporters gathered outside a police station to acknowledge Ranka’s birthday while he remained detained. Dipke’s public greeting highlighted the party’s continuing objections to the police action and its demand that detained members receive access to their lawyers.
The case arose from Tuesday’s entry into Jantar Mantar, where security barricades remained in place following the withdrawal of permission for demonstrations at the location.
