CJP Leaders Released After Seven Days in Custody
Ashutosh Ranka and Saurav Das pledge not to call protests at Jantar Mantar while it remains denotified, as the inquiry against them continues.
- CJP leaders released after seven days in judicial custody
- Both pledge not to call protests at Jantar Mantar
- Court orders ₹50,000 personal and surety bonds each
- Inquiry continues, with next hearing scheduled for Friday
GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 21st Oct: Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) leaders Ashutosh Ranka and Saurav Das were released on Wednesday after spending seven days in judicial custody, following an order by a Special Executive Magistrate (SEM) court in New Delhi. The two gave written undertakings not to call for demonstrations at Jantar Mantar while it remains denotified as a designated protest site.
According to the court order, both leaders pledged to maintain peace, respect the judiciary and uphold public order. They also stated that any future protest would remain within constitutional limits and that they would not call for demonstrations at Jantar Mantar until its denotification is reversed in accordance with the law.
The magistrate directed both leaders to furnish personal bonds and surety bonds of ₹50,000 each before ordering their release. The inquiry against them will continue, with the next hearing scheduled for Friday.
Ranka and Das had been in judicial custody since October 14. On October 13, they allegedly scaled the locked gates of Jantar Mantar and waved the national flag to protest against the site’s denotification. The prosecution argued that their actions violated a peace bond they had signed after being detained on October 10, when they had initially called for a demonstration over alleged electoral fraud.
The Delhi Police had sought a further three days of judicial custody. The two were initially remanded for five days on October 14, with the custody period extended by another two days on Monday.
As they left the court, Das said, “Truth has triumphed.”
The CJP, founded by Abhijeet Dipke, had alleged that proceedings were being deliberately delayed to keep its leaders in custody and approached the Delhi High Court challenging the extension of their judicial custody.
During the hearing on Wednesday, the High Court referred to the alleged breach of the peace bond and observed that breaking barricades could encourage others to follow, potentially creating a law-and-order challenge. The bench also discussed the wider risks associated with protests escalating beyond their initial purpose.
The CJP has been demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, alleging irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter rolls and questioning the manner in which the poll body functions. Opposition leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, have also raised concerns over the voter-roll revision exercise.
With the two leaders released but the inquiry still pending, the case remains ongoing.
