CJP Denies Filing Supreme Court Petition Seeking Release of Detained Party Leaders

The Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) on Sunday denied filing a petition in the Supreme Court seeking the release of its leaders and members allegedly detained ahead of the party’s proposed protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi.

Ratna Singh, the party’s head of legal affairs, clarified in a post on X that the petition circulating on social media had not been filed by the CJP. She said the party was not approaching the Supreme Court over the alleged detentions and that its legal team had not approved any habeas corpus petition.

“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 wrote.

She also tagged a petition shared by a legal news platform on X, reiterating that the document had not been filed by the party.

The petition cited Article 32 of the Constitution and sought a writ, including habeas corpus, directing authorities to produce before the Supreme Court all persons allegedly detained in connection with the CJP’s proposed demonstration at Jantar Mantar on October 10, 2026. It also sought the immediate release of those whose detention was not authorised by law.

Singh’s clarification came amid developments surrounding the CJP’s planned protest demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

On Saturday, more than 3,000 protesters opposing the CEC, including CJP leader Abhijeet Dipke and opposition leaders Mamata Banerjee and Arvind Kejriwal, were detained in Delhi amid extensive security arrangements to prevent unrest around Jantar Mantar. The proposed demonstration subsequently broke up into smaller gatherings across the national capital.

CJP leaders Abhijeet Dipke, Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka were detained by police at Indira Gandhi International Airport at around 10.30 a.m. on Saturday while reportedly on their way to Jantar Mantar to participate in the protest.

Meanwhile, CJP leader Ajinkya Shinde announced that protesters would march towards Jantar Mantar again on Sunday, declaring that the agitation would continue until Gyanesh Kumar resigned.

Authorities had earlier denied permission for the demonstration and warned against unauthorised gatherings. Internet restrictions, roadblocks and traffic diversions were also imposed to prevent a repeat of the CJP’s July protest at Jantar Mantar, which had turned violent.