Jantar Mantar Protest: Supreme Court asks probe committee on police action to submit report in one month; Crime Branch questions CJP leaders

The Supreme Court on Thursday directed the high-level committee investigating allegations of police action during the CJP-led student protest at Jantar Mantar to submit its report within a month. The court stated that it could not wait indefinitely for the results. On the same day, Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) co-conveners Sourav Das and Ashutosh Ranka appeared before the Delhi Police Crime Branch for questioning in connection with cases related to Jantar Mantar. These are two separate developments.

What happened in the Supreme Court

The five-member committee headed by former judge R. Subhash Reddy had submitted a report to the court in a sealed cover on 31 October. The court noted that this was merely a status report detailing the work done so far, but contained no conclusions regarding the allegations of police excess. The petitioners had stated that the committee was formed in August, but no information regarding its progress had been received.

According to reports, the court told the committee to begin examining all documents, videos, and other evidence received so far and to seek responses from the concerned officials. The committee should not limit itself only to direct complaints from victims. It must also consider complaints, videos, and evidence provided by lawyers and others on behalf of the victims. The court said that complaints and evidence would be provided to the appointed Amicus Curiae and nodal officers so that the committee could examine them and make further recommendations. The next hearing in the matter will be on 2 December.

What is the committee investigating

The Supreme Court had formed this committee in August to investigate allegations against the police during the CJP student protest at Jantar Mantar in July. According to reports, these include allegations of the excessive use of pellet guns, electric batons, lathi-charge, and tear gas. Counter-allegations of violence and property damage by police personnel are also within the committee's scope.

Questioning at the Crime Branch

According to officials, Sourav Das and Ashutosh Ranka reached the Crime Branch office in Rajouri Garden on Thursday, where they had been summoned for questioning in connection with cases related to the protest at Jantar Mantar in October. These cases are linked to the incident on 13 October, when protesters allegedly entered Jantar Mantar without permission. Reports stated that the protest was against alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls. Jantar Mantar is no longer a notified protest site. The police have not yet disclosed the points on which questions were asked during the interrogation or what the next course of action will be.

Background

The Cockroach Janta Party is a satirical political campaign launched online in May 2026, which has organized several protests on student issues.