The Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) protest at Jantar Mantar on October 10 led to an estimated ₹90–91 crore in losses due to shutdowns and restrictions across Delhi, according to livemint.com. Metro stations were closed, liquor shops shut for a day, and major markets including Connaught Place and Sadar Bazar were affected. Over 250 trains were cancelled, internet services were temporarily suspended, and a traffic advisory was issued to manage the situation.
The protest targeted Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar following allegations of irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision of the electoral roll. To prevent unrest similar to the July 20 CJP protest over NEET, authorities took pre-emptive steps including detaining thousands of protesters. CJP leaders Abhijeet Dipke, Ashutosh Ranka, and Saurav Das were placed under preventive arrest but released on condition of maintaining peace for one year, under Sections 126 and 170 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, which relate to preventing breaches of peace and arrest to prevent cognisable offences.
The financial impact includes ₹58.5 crore from liquor shop closures, ₹31.8 crore from market shutdowns, and between ₹0.52 crore and ₹1.3 crore from the Metro shutdown, as reported by the Times of India and cited by livemint.com. The protest and resulting shutdowns highlight the economic cost of large-scale political demonstrations in the capital, affecting transport, retail, and public services. The invocation of BNSS Sections 126 and 170 against protest leaders underscores the government’s approach to maintaining public order during politically sensitive events.
The three detained CJP leaders were released by a Special Executive Magistrate court in Delhi Cantt on October 11 with the stipulation of no breach of peace for one year, as confirmed by CJP’s legal head Ratna Sinha on X. The protest and its aftermath have drawn attention to the balance between political expression and public order in Delhi.