Delhi Court Orders Release of 'Cockroach' Movement Leaders Ashutosh Ranka and Saurav Das
An Indian court in New Delhi has ordered the release of Cockroach Janta Party co-convenors Ashutosh Ranka and Saurav Das after accepting their sureties. The activists were detained following an October 13 protest at Jantar Mantar, where demonstrators demanded the Chief Election Commissioner’s resignation amid disputes over voter list revisions.
An Indian court in New Delhi ordered the release of two prominent leaders of the youth-led "cockroach" movement on Wednesday. The decision comes after the activists spent over a week in judicial custody following a demonstration at a historic protest venue in the national capital.
Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) co-convenors Ashutosh Ranka and Saurav Das were ordered to be released by a Special Executive Magistrate (SEM) court after authorities accepted their furnished sureties. As per a report by Reuters, the leaders were initially detained last week after scaling barricades at the Jantar Mantar observatory. Why Can’t Mumbai Police Take Lawrence Bishnoi Into Custody in Tiger Shroff Firing Case?.
Protest Context and Jantar Mantar Demonstrations
The detained activists were part of a group that breached security barriers at Jantar Mantar on October 13. The demonstration occurred just a day after the site was removed from the official list of designated protest locations. During the protest, members unfurled the national flag and chanted slogans demanding the resignation of the Chief Election Commissioner.
Following their detention, the individuals were initially remanded to five days of judicial custody, which was subsequently extended. Their arrest stemmed from alleged violations of peace bonds signed earlier, prompting legal battles that extended to the Delhi High Court before the SEM court finalized the release order.
Wider Political Mobilisation and Voter Roll Disputes
The youth-led CJP, alongside various opposition factions and left-wing student bodies, has organized a series of demonstrations throughout the month. The rallies are centered around demands for accountability regarding recent revisions to national voter lists, which critics argue disproportionately affect democratic representation. RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra Hints Rate Cuts Off Table in Near Term.
Conversely, electoral authorities have defended the revision process, noting that incorrectly deleted voters retain pathways to re-enrol. Meanwhile, ruling coalition representatives have maintained that these demonstrations seek to undermine legitimate institutional processes, keeping political tensions elevated across major urban centers.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 21, 2026 08:11 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
