The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) on Saturday said its legal team head, Ratna Singh, had been detained by police along with three other lawyers ahead of the organisation’s planned protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi. The party said the four were taken into custody amid heightened security arrangements across the capital. The detention comes as the CJP prepares for its second major demonstration, titled “Jantar Mantar 2.0”, seeking the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the preparation of electoral rolls.

The CJP released a video showing Singh seated inside a car surrounded by several police personnel. According to the party, at least 25 officers were present around the vehicle. In a statement, the organisation alleged that the police had detained Singh and the three lawyers without explaining the grounds for their action. The party’s account has placed the circumstances of the detention at the centre of attention as restrictions and security measures intensify ahead of the planned gathering.

Speaking from inside the car, Singh said police personnel had visited her residence earlier in the morning but were informed that she was not there. She alleged that the officers did not produce any official notice when asked to explain the action. According to Singh, the personnel told her they had received orders from senior authorities to detain her. Her account raised questions about the reasons communicated to her at the time of the incident.

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Singh also alleged that police personnel repeatedly asked her to get out of the vehicle and intended to detain her at her residence. Describing her situation, she said she was being detained on the road. These statements were made in the video released by the CJP, which has claimed that neither Singh nor the other lawyers were given a clear explanation for their detention. The allegations have not been independently established in the material provided.

The detention took place as the CJP prepared to hold its protest demanding Kumar’s resignation. The organisation has accused the Chief Election Commissioner of undermining the process of preparing voter lists, including through alleged irregularities involving the Special Intensive Revision exercise and electoral registration procedures. The planned demonstration has prompted extensive security arrangements in New Delhi, with police personnel deployed at key locations and restrictions introduced to manage crowds and movement.

The CJP has also issued guidelines for people planning to participate in the protest. The detention of its legal team head and three other lawyers adds to the developments surrounding the demonstration, as the organisation continues to press its demands. The available report does not specify the formal grounds for the detentions or provide a response from the police to Singh’s allegations. Further details about the legal basis for the action were not included in the information released by the party.

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