CJP leaders Sourav Das and Ashutosh Ranka withdraw petition from Delhi High Court, challenging judicial custody

October 21, 2026

New Delhi: Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) leaders Sourav Das and Ashutosh Ranka withdrew their petition from the Delhi High Court on Wednesday. In this petition, they had challenged the decision of the Special Executive Magistrate (SEM) to remand them to judicial custody. Both leaders were detained for hoisting the national flag at Jantar Mantar. Jantar Mantar has been removed from the list of notified protest sites.

The court allowed them to withdraw their petitions without commenting on the merits of the case.

However, during the hearing, the High Court questioned both leaders about their age and emphasized that they do not belong to Generation Z. The court was told that Sourav Das is 27 years old and Ashutosh Ranka is 31 years old. During the hearing, it was also stated that people born after 1997 are categorized as Gen Z.

The court also discussed the importance of examining the age and intentions of protesters. The High Court stated that people have the right to protest, but in a democracy, power changes through elections. The court also remarked that the authorities had been lenient towards Sourav Das and Ashutosh Ranka.

High Court advised both leaders to approach the Revision Court

Justice Subramonium Prasad of the Delhi High Court was hearing the case. He stated that Sourav Das and Ashutosh Ranka had previously violated the bond they had signed before the Special Executive Magistrate (SEM).

The court advised both leaders to approach the relevant Revision Court and utilize the legal options available there.

According to a Bar & Bench report, the court said, “You have indeed violated a bond. Your appropriate legal remedy lies in revision.”

The court further stated that a petition being legally maintainable and a court hearing it are two different things. It questioned why the High Court was approached under Article 226 when the relevant order could be challenged through a revision.

Detention preceded the October 10 protest against CEC Gyanesh Kumar

Sourav Das and Ashutosh Ranka were first detained on October 10 ahead of the CJP’s protest against Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar. Party founder Abhijit Dipke was also detained at that time.

The three were later released after signing a bond under which they agreed not to engage in any activity that would disturb peace and law and order for a year.

However, on October 13, Sourav Das and Ashutosh Ranka allegedly tried to climb over the closed gate to enter Jantar Mantar. Jantar Mantar had been removed from the list of designated protest sites.

Subsequently, both were again detained and sent to judicial custody for five days. On October 19th, their judicial custody was extended until October 21st.

Petition filed in High Court against extension of detention

On Tuesday, Sourav Das and Ashutosh Ranka approached the Delhi High Court, seeking an urgent hearing that night against the extension of judicial custody.

CJP legal cell chief Ratna Singh stated on the social media platform X that the party had filed a petition in the Delhi High Court requesting an urgent hearing.

She stated, “Sourav and Ashutosh should not spend even a minute in jail. Their freedom should not be restricted due to political games. Justice should not be delayed.”

On Wednesday, both leaders withdrew their petition. The court granted them leave without giving any opinion on the merits of the case.