The Madras High Court on Friday, October 30, issued notice on a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking an investigation into the nationality, identity and family background of journalist and Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) spokesperson Saurav Das.
The petition has also sought cancellation of his passport and Aadhaar card if he is found to be a foreign national, besides blocking his X and Instagram accounts over allegedly derogatory remarks against the judiciary.
A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Sushrut Arvind Dharmadhikari and Justice G Arul Murugan sought responses from Das, the Union government and other respondents in the matter titled Ganesh Kumar Vs Regional Passport Officer. The matter is expected to be listed again after six weeks.
The PIL, filed by Ganesh Kumar, identifies Das as ‘Yogesh Sharma alias Saurav Das’ and seeks a detailed investigation into his identity, antecedents and family background, including details concerning his parents.
The petitioner has alleged that Das made derogatory statements against the judiciary, including judges of the Supreme Court. He has sought directions to the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology to block Das’s X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram accounts and prevent him from making further allegedly objectionable remarks about constitutional courts and their judges.
During the hearing, the petitioner’s counsel, advocate B Jagannath, referred to documents annexed to the petition concerning Das’s identity and residential addresses. The Bench examined the documents and sought clarification regarding certain particulars mentioned in them.
The counsel also brought the alleged remarks against the judiciary to the Court’s attention. The judges questioned the manner in which the statements had been made and asked whether the petitioner had approached the authorities before moving the High Court.
The petitioner’s counsel submitted that a representation dated October 7, 2026, had already been submitted to the Central government but no action had followed. The PIL has consequently sought directions to the concerned authorities to examine the representation and take appropriate action within a timeframe prescribed by the Court.
Importantly, the High Court has only issued notice at this stage. It has not ordered an investigation into Das’s nationality or directed the cancellation of his identity documents or blocking of his social media accounts. The allegations remain to be examined.
Delhi court proceedings had earlier raised questions about Das’s parentage and address
The Madras High Court proceedings come days after questions concerning Das’s parentage and residential address surfaced during separate proceedings in Delhi.
On October 19, a Special Executive Magistrate (SEM) rejected the sureties furnished for Das and fellow CJP leader Ashutosh Ranka while extending their judicial custody. According to the magistrate’s order, one surety could not satisfactorily explain a discrepancy between the photograph on the surety bond and the Aadhaar card.
Another surety reportedly failed to provide basic details about Das, including his parentage and residential address, despite standing as his guarantor. The magistrate questioned the suitability of the sureties and directed the two CJP leaders to furnish fresh ones.
Das and Ranka subsequently approached the Delhi High Court challenging the extension of their custody. On October 21, Justice Subramonium Prasad questioned their decision to approach the High Court when an alternative legal remedy was available. The two eventually withdrew their petition.
Das had himself approached Delhi High Court over disclosure of personal details
In another legal proceeding, Das approached the Delhi High Court in August, accusing political commentator Abhijit Iyer-Mitra and certain digital media platforms of disclosing his residential address and personal information.
His suit alleged that individuals associated with a digital publication had entered his shared residential premises without permission, recorded videos and circulated the footage online. He also claimed that information concerning his parents and family background had been disclosed, raising concerns about his privacy and security.
On August 24, Justice Sachin Datta issued summons to the defendants and notice on Das’s application for interim relief. During the proceedings, X informed the Court that posts allegedly revealing his residential address had already been removed.
Why were Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka sent to Tihar Jail?
Das and Ranka spent seven days in Tihar Jail between October 14 and October 21 following a protest at Jantar Mantar against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
Delhi Police accused the two of entering a barricaded protest site despite restrictions and violating peace bonds previously furnished before the authorities. They were initially remanded to five days of judicial custody on October 14, which was extended by another two days on October 19 after their sureties were rejected.
On October 21, the SEM ordered their release after they furnished personal bonds of Rs 50,000 each and submitted written undertakings to maintain peace and refrain from organising protests at Jantar Mantar while restrictions remained in force.
Separate police cases relating to the protest were also transferred to the Delhi Police Crime Branch for investigation.
The latest PIL before the Madras High Court adds another legal proceeding involving Das. Whether the allegations concerning his identity, nationality and documents lead to any official inquiry will depend on the responses filed by the concerned authorities and the Court’s subsequent consideration of the matter.
