Archive · 13 Aug 2026
Saurav Das Alleges Intimidation; Police Call It I-Day Drill
A man named Saurav Das lives in Puducherry, a city in India.
He helps lead a small political party called the Cockroach Janta Party.
He said police officers came to his family's house and asked his family many questions.
He thinks the police were sent to scare him because of his political work.
He wrote about it online and asked who gave the order for the visit.
The police said they were just doing a routine safety check before Independence Day, a big national celebration in India.
They said they were checking houses and hotels in areas where important people visit.
Das does not agree with the police explanation and says the central government is trying to frighten his family.
He says the visit will not stop him from speaking out and has made him more determined to work for a better system.
Saurav Das, co-convenor of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), alleged Puducherry Police visited his family's home in the White Town area of Puducherry and questioned its occupants.
Das called the visit political intimidation tied to his political activities, claiming it was carried out by the BJP government in Puducherry at the behest of the Union government.
Puducherry Police rejected the charges, saying the questioning was part of a routine security exercise ahead of Independence Day, including checks on homes and hotels in VIP-frequented areas for new arrivals.
Das posted on social media platform X asking who ordered the visit and whether it followed legal procedure, also questioning whether the intimidation was planned during Amit Shah's recent Puducherry visit.
Das said the alleged attempt would not silence him and instead strengthened his determination to work for a better system where police uphold the law.
- Who
- Saurav Das, co-convenor of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), his family, and the Puducherry Police
- What
- Puducherry police visited and questioned Das's family; Das alleges political intimidation while police call it a routine Independence Day security drill
- When
- Wednesday, ahead of Independence Day celebrations
- Where
- Das's family home in the White Town area of Puducherry
- Why
- Das says the visit was meant to intimidate him over his political activities, allegedly at the behest of the Union government; police say it was part of routine security checks
Das: Political Intimidation
Police: Routine Security Drill
Reason for police visit
Das: Political Intimidation
Das says the visit was meant to intimidate him over his political activities, ordered by the BJP government in Puducherry at the behest of the Union government.
Police: Routine Security Drill
Puducherry Police say the questioning was part of a routine security exercise ahead of Independence Day, including verification at residences and hotels along VIP routes.
Treatment during questioning
Das: Political Intimidation
Das says his family was subjected to 'all kinds of questioning' and harassment, and questions whether the action followed legal procedure.
Police: Routine Security Drill
Police describe it as routine questioning under a standard security drill, including asking about new arrivals, guests and foreign nationals, with no intention of harassment.
Planned intimidation?
Das: Political Intimidation
Das noted that Union Home Minister Amit Shah met the Puducherry Home Minister and Lieutenant Governor two days earlier and questioned whether the intimidation tactic was planned at that meeting.
Police: Routine Security Drill
Police say such enquiries at houses and hotels in VIP areas are standard security arrangements put in place ahead of Independence Day.
- Key figure
- Saurav Das, co-convenor of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP)
- Allegation
- Political intimidation by the BJP government in Puducherry, allegedly at the behest of the Union government
- Police response
- Routine security exercise ahead of Independence Day celebrations, checking residences and hotels in VIP-frequented areas
- Location
- Das's family home in the White Town area, Puducherry
- Date
- Wednesday, ahead of Independence Day
- Police official quoted
- Nithya Radhakrishnan, IPS, senior officer in-charge of crime and intelligence
- Related event
- Union Home Minister Amit Shah visited Puducherry two days before the incident
- Das's response
- Intimidation won't silence me
Sources
'Intimidation Won’t Silence Me': CJP-Convenor Saurav Das Alleges Pondicherry Police Harassed His Family
What Puducherry Police said over visit to Saurav Das’ home: ‘Routine Independence Day eve drill’
