Two Cockroach Janta Party leaders face five days in custody after a protest in New Delhi over voter list revisions, while opposition groups question electoral transparency.

Two leaders of India’s youth-led Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) have been ordered to spend five days in jail after allegedly violating protest restrictions at New Delhi’s historic Jantar Mantar site, amid growing opposition to controversial voter list revisions.

Ashutosh Ranka and Saurav Das were detained on Tuesday after joining around a dozen protesters who crossed barricades and entered the grounds of Jantar Mantar. The demonstrators chanted slogans demanding the resignation of Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

The party said a court ordered the two leaders’ detention on Wednesday. Their lawyer, Abhisht Hela, said police accused them of violating the conditions of a bond that had secured their release following an earlier detention over the weekend.

Delhi Police did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The detentions come as opposition groups and student organisations stage demonstrations over changes to electoral rolls. Critics allege that the revisions could disproportionately affect voters who are less likely to support Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

The Election Commission has denied favouring any political party, saying voters whose names were wrongly removed can register again. The BJP has also rejected allegations of electoral wrongdoing.

CJP Vows to Continue Protests

Ajinkya Shinde, another CJP leader who was released on a personal bond, said the movement would not be intimidated by the imprisonment of its members.

He pledged to continue opposing what the party describes as government overreach, signalling that the detentions may not bring an immediate end to the demonstrations.

The Cockroach movement has gained visibility in youth-led protests in recent months, campaigning on issues including unemployment, government school infrastructure and alleged examination irregularities.

Earlier this year, a weeks-long sit-in by its supporters at Jantar Mantar reportedly contributed to the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan following controversy over examination paper leaks.

Voter Roll Revisions Fuel Political Tensions

The latest demonstrations followed reports that officials within the Election Commission had raised concerns about voter registration procedures, digital systems and electoral roll revisions.

The changes, which began last year, resulted in the removal of more than 130 million names from voter lists, according to figures cited in the report. The deletions included people recorded as deceased, individuals who had relocated and voters whose whereabouts could not be established.

Opposition parties allege that the revisions disproportionately affect Muslims and other minority communities, which they say are less likely to support the ruling BJP. Both the Election Commission and the BJP have rejected those allegations.

The dispute has intensified scrutiny of voter registration procedures and the safeguards used to maintain electoral rolls. While authorities say voters whose names were wrongly removed can register again, opposition groups continue to demand answers over the changes.

With Ranka and Das facing five days in custody, the case has added another point of contention to the wider debate over electoral transparency, political accountability and the right to protest in India.