'Much, much bigger leaders than me': Dipke hails Saurav Das, Ashutosh Ranka after release

Cockroach Janta Party founder Abhijeet Dipke has shared a video of party leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka after their release from judicial custody. In the footage, the duo is seen bearing the Indian flag and reiterating their demand for Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar's resignation. They firmly reaffirmed their stance on pressing the CEC for his removal.

Their release ensued a Special Executive Magistrate's order on Wednesday. Initially sentenced on October 14 for allegedly climbing over a locked gate to enter Jantar Mantar—de-notified as a protest site—Das and Ranka sparked controversy due to their challenge over its protest authorization. Withdrawn on October 11, the decision was later challenged in the Supreme Court and Delhi High Court.

Two days later, on October 13, they carried the flag to Jantar Mantar, leading to their arrest the next day. The Special Executive Magistrate then remanded them to five days of judicial custody. Their custodial sentence was extended twice, expiring on October 19, leading to their release and Dipke's subsequent video sharing. The party's legal head, Ratna Singh, criticized the delay in taking this step.

The protests against CEC Gyanesh Kumar centered on alleged irregularities in the electoral rolls' SIR. Despite the Election Commission claiming unanimous decisions, the controversy lingered, with an Indian Express report revealing instances where Kumar had received objections. Journalist Priyanjali Narayan, covering the story for Hindustan Times, highlighted the ongoing discourse around Jantar Mantar's protest viability and the persistent dissatisfaction surrounding CEC Gyanesh Kumar's actions.