Delhi Police transfers two cases against CJP’s Das, Ranka to Crime Branch

The Delhi Police have transferred two cases registered against Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka to the Crime Branch on Tuesday (October 20, 2026), sources close to the investigation said. 

Also Read: CJP’s Saurav Das, Ashutosh Ranka withdraw Delhi High Court plea against extension of judicial custody

This comes a week after registration of two FIRs against the two for trespass into the Jantar Mantar protest site and obstruction of police personnel on duty among other charges.

The cases have been transferred to the Crime Branch considering their “sensitive and important nature” and to ensure impartial investigation, sources said. 

According to the police, Mr. Das, Mr. Ranka, Ajinkya Shinde and 11 other CJP members reached Jantar Mantar by trespassing through private premises, despite the site having been denotified as a designated protest venue. Police personnel deployed at the spot intervened to stop them, but the group allegedly obstructed them from discharging their official duties.

All 14 members were detained, and two FIRs were registered at the Connaught Place and Parliament Street police stations on October 13. The Connaught Place FIR was registered under Sections 223(a) (disobedience of an order duly promulgated by a public servant), 332 (house-trespass to commit an offence) and 61(2) (criminal conspiracy) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

The Parliament Street FIR invoked Sections 221 (voluntarily obstructing a public servant in the discharge of public functions), 115(2) (voluntarily causing hurt), 132 (assault or use of criminal force to deter a public servant from discharging official duties), 121(1) (voluntarily causing hurt or grievous hurt to deter a public servant from discharging official duties) and 3(5) (acts done by several persons in furtherance of their common intention) of the BNS.

The police subsequently initiated preventive proceedings against Mr. Das, Mr. Ranka and Mr. Shinde under Sections 126 and 170 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), citing alleged repeated attempts to disturb public peace and violate the law. The police also cited their alleged attempts to instigate others through social media to engage in similar activities.

While Mr. Das and Mr. Ranka continue to be in judicial custody, Mr. Shinde was bound down to maintain peace and good behaviour for six months on a personal bond and surety of ₹5,000.