CJP legal head says Delhi Police arrested Saurav Das, Ashutosh Ranka in Jantar Mantar case

The Delhi Police lodged an FIR on Tuesday accusing Saurav Das, Ashutosh Ranka and several other members of the Constitutional Justice Party (CJP) of trespassing into the Jantar Mantar complex without official clearance. The police statement said the individuals entered the historic monument during a scheduled protest, ignored repeated warnings from security personnel, and disrupted the flow of visitors. The FIR cites sections of the Indian Penal Code related to unlawful assembly and damage to protected heritage sites.

According to the CJP legal head, the arrests were made after a thorough review of CCTV footage and eyewitness accounts that placed the accused inside the restricted zone. He emphasized that the party had submitted a formal request for permission to hold a peaceful demonstration, which was denied by municipal authorities due to security concerns. The legal head added that the members will cooperate with the investigation while asserting their right to protest within the bounds of the law.

The incident arrives at a time when Jantar Mantar has become a focal point for a variety of political gatherings, ranging from environmental campaigns to civil rights rallies. Authorities have tightened security protocols to prevent damage to the 18th-century astronomical observatory, a UNESCO World Heritage site. For Indian readers, the case highlights the tension between the right to assemble and the need to protect historic public spaces, a balance that courts are likely to examine in upcoming hearings.