Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke on Monday targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the continued detention of party leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka, accusing the government of using state machinery to intimidate young protesters and suppress dissent.
His remarks came after a Special Executive Magistrate at Mandir Marg police station extended the judicial custody of the two CJP co-convenors by another two days. They had been in custody since October 14 following a protest at Jantar Mantar.
In a social media post, Dipke questioned the government's decision to keep the two leaders behind bars and accused the authorities of repeatedly delaying proceedings concerning their release.
𝗗𝗶𝗽𝗸𝗲 𝗾𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗣𝗠 𝗠𝗼𝗱𝗶
Referring to the ages of the detained leaders, Dipke questioned whether keeping young protesters in custody demonstrated political strength.
"The great Vishwaguru Narendra Modi must be feeling very strong keeping 26-27-year-old Saurabh Das in jail and keeping 30-year-old Ashutosh behind bars. This is what strength looks like? Hiding behind the police, hiding behind the courts—is this Narendra Modi's strength?" he said in an Instagram post.
Dipke alleged that the two leaders were being punished for exercising their right to protest and refusing to withdraw their opposition to the government.
He claimed that the continued detention would not discourage other young people from participating in demonstrations.
In a separate post on X, the CJP founder said the two leaders had remained determined despite spending five days in jail.
He said they had entered the courtroom smiling, even as they faced the prospect of further detention.
𝗖𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗱𝘆 𝗲𝘅𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝘆 𝘁𝘄𝗼 𝗱𝗮𝘆𝘀
Das and Ranka were produced before a newly appointed Special Executive Magistrate on Monday after completing their initial five-day judicial remand.
Delhi Police sought an extension, arguing that releasing the two leaders could disturb public peace and tranquillity.
The CJP's legal team opposed the request, maintaining that there was no evidence to suggest their release would threaten public order.
The magistrate subsequently extended their custody by two days. Both leaders are scheduled to be produced again on Wednesday.
The two were detained on October 13 after allegedly climbing over locked gates to enter Jantar Mantar, which had been denotified as a designated protest site.
Along with other CJP workers, they displayed the national flag and raised slogans against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar before police intervened.
𝗖𝗝𝗣 𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗴𝗲𝘀 𝗱𝗲𝗹𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗯𝗮𝗶𝗹 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗰𝗲𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀
The CJP has accused the authorities of deliberately prolonging the detention by repeatedly raising objections to surety bonds submitted for the leaders' release.
Dipke alleged that proceedings had been postponed despite the party fulfilling the necessary requirements.
The Delhi Police have denied deliberately delaying their release, maintaining that the submitted surety bonds had deficiencies and that the prescribed legal procedure was being followed.
The controversy intensified on Sunday after the Special Executive Magistrate hearing the matter reported receiving threats. Police subsequently registered a case concerning the alleged threats.
CJP representatives questioned why the issue had affected proceedings concerning the release of Das and Ranka.
𝗙𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝗵𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗳𝘂𝗹
Dipke also described his interactions with the detained leaders and their families, saying their response to the continued custody reflected their determination.
He recalled that Das had previously expressed concern about whether he could endure even a day in jail but had remained composed after five days in custody.
The CJP founder said he had spoken to Das's mother, who expressed confidence that her son would remain firm despite the circumstances.
Dipke maintained that the government's actions would encourage more young people to raise their voices rather than deter them from protesting.
The two leaders will remain in judicial custody until Wednesday, when their case is scheduled to be taken up again.