11 October,2026 10:34 AM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondent
Pic/X
An Executive Magistrate on Sunday ordered the release of Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) leaders Abhijeet Dipke, Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka after Delhi Police placed them under preventive arrest, the party's legal affairs head, Ratna Singh, said.
In a post on X, Singh confirmed the development, stating: "Executive Magistrate court releases Abhijeet, Saurav and Ashutosh."
The three leaders were detained on Saturday at Indira Gandhi International Airport after arriving in the national capital to participate in a planned protest against the Election Commission of India (ECI).
The detention came ahead of the CJP's proposed demonstration at Jantar Mantar, where protesters planned to demand the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
Singh had earlier said the three leaders would be produced before the Executive Magistrate at Delhi Cantt Police Station on Sunday morning.
"Abhijeet, Ashutosh and Saurav will be produced before the Executive Magistrate at Delhi Cantt Police Station at 9 AM today. A Delhi police official informed me about this in the morning. As CJP's Legal Head, I will be at the police station along with other advocates representing us," Singh had said in an earlier post on X.
Separately, Singh denied that the party had filed a petition in the Supreme Court seeking the release of its leaders and other members detained ahead of the proposed protest.
She clarified that a petition circulating on social media was not filed by the CJP and said the party was not approaching the Supreme Court over the detentions.
"Pls note - This petition is not filed by @Cockroachisback. We are not approaching the Supreme Court, and no habeas corpus petition has been approved by the CJP's legal team," Singh posted.
She also tagged a petition shared by a legal news platform on X to clarify that the document had not been filed by the party.
The document circulating online stated that it was being filed under Article 32 of the Constitution, seeking a writ, including habeas corpus, directing authorities to produce people allegedly detained in connection with the proposed CJP demonstration at Jantar Mantar on October 10, 2026.
"The present Writ Petition is being instituted under Article 32 of the Constitution of India seeking issuance of an appropriate writ, order or direction, such as habeas corpus, directing the Respondents to produce before this Hon'ble Court all persons allegedly detained in connection with the proposed demonstration of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi, on 10.10.2026, and to forthwith release all such persons whose custody is not authorised by law," the petition stated.
However, Singh maintained that the petition had not been filed or approved by the party's legal team.
Meanwhile, CJP leader Ajinkya Shinde announced that party members and supporters would again march towards Jantar Mantar on Sunday. He said the protesters would continue their agitation until Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar resigned.
(With inputs from IANS)
