CJP’s Saurav Das questions police action during Amit Shah’s Puducherry visit.
- CJP spokesperson Saurav Das alleged Puducherry Police visited his family home and questioned his relatives, calling it “harassment” and “intimidation”.
- He claimed the action was done at the behest of the Union government and linked it to Amit Shah’s recent visit to Puducherry.
- Das said the move was an attempt to silence him but vowed it would only strengthen the CJP’s resolve.
- Puducherry Police denied harassment, saying the visit was a routine Independence Day security check in VIP-frequented areas.
- The incident highlights ongoing tensions between the CJP and the BJP-led administration over law-and-order and alleged political targeting.
Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) chief spokesperson Saurav Das on Wednesday alleged that Puducherry Police visited his family home and questioned his family members, calling the episode “harassment” and claiming it was carried out at the behest of the BJP government. In a post on X, Das said police officials arrived at his family’s residence around two hours before his post and subjected his family members to “all kinds of questioning”, without explaining the reason for the action.
“Why this harassment?”
Das questioned the legality and purpose of the police visit. “Why this harassment, @PuducheryPolice? Who ordered this and for what purpose? Is this the legal procedure?” he wrote. He alleged that his family was being intimidated by the BJP government in Puducherry and claimed that the action was being carried out at the direction of the Union government. “Why is the BJP government in Pondicherry intimidating my family? This is not the character of the Pondy government.
Alleged attempt to silence him
Das also suggested that the police action was intended to pressure him into remaining silent. “If the intention is to intimidate me into silence, it will not work. This will not cower me down. It only strengthens our resolve to build a better system, one where the police uphold the law instead of acting like goondas!” he said. In a later update, he linked the incident to Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s recent visit to Puducherry, questioning whether the timing was coincidental. “Just two days ago, Amit Shah was in Puducherry, where he met its Home Minister and Lieutenant Governor… Was this planned?”
Police call it routine security check
In response, Puducherry Police clarified that the visit was a routine security measure ahead of Independence Day. The police explained that enquiries were being made at houses and hotels in areas frequented by VIPs to determine if any new persons had recently arrived or were staying in Puducherry. An official stated these enquiries were standard and part of the security arrangements for Independence Day, denying any element of harassment or political intimidation.
A familiar flashpoint
The incident comes amid heightened tensions between the CJP and the BJP-led administration in Puducherry, with Das and other party members frequently criticising the government over law-and-order issues, alleged political victimisation and the conduct of police. For the CJP, which has built its identity around youth-led protest and anti-establishment rhetoric, such episodes reinforce its narrative of being targeted by the ruling dispensation. For the police and the local government, the episode underscores the challenge of balancing routine security drills with public perception, especially when they involve politically active families.