Two days after being detained in a city-wide police clampdown, the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) has chosen an unusual next step: going to the police themselves. Leaders Ashutosh Ranka and Saurav Das reached a Delhi police station on Monday morning to ask for a date for a fresh protest at Jantar Mantar.

What happened on Monday morning

Ranka announced the plan on X on Sunday. He said that he, Das, the CJP’s legal affairs head Ratna Singh and other leaders would go to the Parliament Street Police Station at 10 am to get a date for a peaceful protest at Jantar Mantar. Live updates on Monday said the leaders had reached the station.

We have not seen any report of what the police told them, whether a date was given, or whether the meeting is over. 

The 24-hour ultimatum

Ranka said Delhi Police can give the party a date for Jantar Mantar within 24 hours, or the CJP will announce its own protest call. In effect, the party is offering the police a choice: set a date and venue for a permitted protest, or face another call to the streets.

How they got here

Ranka made the announcement hours after being released from preventive custody on Sunday. Saturday’s planned Jantar Mantar protest, demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, never took place as planned. Delhi Police had refused permission, citing security concerns and the late application, and detained thousands of people, including CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke, Ranka and Das, along with Mamata Banerjee and Arvind Kejriwal.

Why the visit matters

Walking in to ask for a date is a notable shift. Saturday’s protest was blocked partly because the application was submitted on 7 October against a 10-day notice period. By asking for a date in advance, the CJP is trying to remove that objection and put the question back to the police. It also sends a message to supporters: the movement is going to continue, but this time through the front door.

What the police and the government say

Delhi Police has cited security concerns and procedural requirements for refusing earlier permission. We have not seen a response to the CJP’s latest request. The BJP has dismissed the CJP’s second round of agitation as a “flop show”, and the Election Commission and its supporters maintain that the SIR is lawful. Earlier this week, 42 former judges signed an open letter defending the Commission.

What happens next

The next 24 hours are the key window. Delhi Police could name a date and venue, refuse again, or stay silent, and the CJP has said it will respond with a fresh call to protest if it gets no date. Activist Sonam Wangchuk had also set a Sunday deadline for the release of detainees, warning of a fast or march otherwise.

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