‘Student Protests Turned Into Arson, Looting’: Delhi HC’s Strong Remarks On CJP Leaders’ Plea

Last Updated:October 21, 2026, 3:54 PM IST

Drawing parallels between the France protests and the student agitation in Delhi, the Court questioned Das and Ranka’s conduct, saying they had broken a bond and must seek revision

Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka, and other supporters were detained from protesting at Jantar Mantar. (File image)

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday drew parallels between the student protests in the national capital and the ongoing agitation in France that escalated into arson and looting, while hearing a plea by Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka against judicial custody.

Justice Subramonium Prasad expressed disinclination to entertain Das and Ranka’s writ petition against the order passed by the Special Executive Magistrate Court to extend their judicial custody till October 21. The judge also questioned the CJP leaders’ conductsaying that they broke a bond and violated the law by breaching barricades at Jantar Mantar after it was de-notified as a protest site.

“When you go and break a barricade, the chances of 10 or 20 more people being in violation of Section 163 (BNSS) are very high. There may be persons who might not be in your group and who may do things,” he said.

Referring to the protests in France, the High Court said, “We are seeing this outside our country as well. What started as a student protest has become arson and looting. For that purpose, you take police permission which is to prevent unwanted persons who join your group and spoil your name.”

HC Urges Das, Ranka To Seek Revision

The High Court urged the petitioners to first approach the revisional court before moving the High Court, observing that they had broken a bond and hence the remedy lay in revision. It also noted that the challenge to Jantar Mantar’s de-notification is pending before the Supreme Court and the notification is not yet stayed. The court said it would examine the legality of breaking the bond to protest at Jantar Mantar at a later time.

During the hearing, the High Court also referred to the student protests against the NEET paper leak in June-July, where Das and Ranka were involved, orally observing that they were not Gen Z. Noting that Das was 27 and Ranka was 32, the court said, “Then you are not Gen Z. What age group do millennials belong to? It was a student protest. Children were there but now it’s another cause.”

“The next question will be: who are you? What are you? What is your association? What is the purpose of your association? Please understand that when there is apprehension of peace and tranquility, all these questions will assume importance.”

Das And Ranka’s Judicial Custody

The Court heard an urgent plea by the CJP leaders challenging the SEM Court’s order extending their judicial custody, which ends today. However, Das and Ranka agreed to withdraw their plea after the court questioned why they had not pursued alternative remedies.

Das and Ranka have been in jail since October 13 following a protest by CJP activists at Jantar Mantar against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The party has also demanded the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

In an earlier video message on Tuesday, CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke rejected comparisons between the protests and violent unrest abroad, saying the two leaders had chosen Mahatma Gandhi’s path of satyagraha and non-violence.

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Why did the Delhi High Court refuse to entertain CJP leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka’s writ petition?

The Delhi High Court expressed disinclination to entertain the petition because the leaders had broken a bond and violated the law by breaching barricades at Jantar Mantar, and urged them to first approach the revisional court.

What led to the judicial custody of CJP leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka?

Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka were sent to judicial custody following a protest by Cockroach Janta Party activists at Jantar Mantar against the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.

What is the background of the protests organized by the Cockroach Janta Party?

The protests began following a satirical online response to a remark by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, eventually expanding into a nationwide campaign involving students and young professionals.

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Aveek Banerjee

Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Sub Editor at News18. Based in Noida with a Master’s in Global Studies, Aveek has more than three years of experience in digital media and news curation, specialising in int…Read More

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