Mumbai: The Cockroach Janata Party’s (CJP) ‘Lehra Do Tiranga’ protest began at Mumbai’s Azad Maidan on Friday, October 16, with young participants, including members of Gen Z, waving the national flag to protest the arrest of party leaders Ashutosh Ranka and Saurav Das.

The demonstration began around 11 am, with Mumbai Police deploying personnel, barricades and police vans to maintain security. Videos circulating online showed participants carrying and waving the Tricolour during the gathering.

Police granted permission for the one-day protest, allowing up to 5,000 participants between 9:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. Organisers were instructed to keep demonstrators within the designated area and prevent processions towards the Gateway of India and adjoining roads. The party had announced a programme from 10 am to 5 pm.

The protest follows the arrest of Ranka and Das in Delhi. On October 14, they were remanded to five days of judicial custody after allegedly entering Jantar Mantar, a site no longer designated for protests, and raising slogans demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

CJP has linked its campaign to objections over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, which has become a contentious political issue.

The party had also planned a parallel demonstration at Central Park in Connaught Place, Delhi, on Friday evening. However, authorities announced that the park would remain closed on October 16 and 17. Party founder Abhijeet Dipke was reportedly served a notice over the proposed march for which permission had not been granted. Security arrangements remained in place as developments at both locations continued.