CJP leaders Saurav Das, Ashutosh Ranka face fresh custody request by Delhi Police

Delhi Police has sought three more days of custody for CJP leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka in the Jantar Mantar trespassing case. The Delhi High Court allowed them to withdraw their plea challenging the custody extension order

New Delhi: The Delhi Police on Wednesday sought a further three days of judicial custody for Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka in connection with the Jantar Mantar trespassing case.

The two activists were brought to Mandir Marg Police Station for production before the Special Executive Magistrate (SEM) court after their previous judicial custody expired.

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CJP Legal Affairs Head Ratna Singh also arrived at the police station ahead of the proceedings.

The hearing before the SEM court is underway, and the magistrate is yet to pronounce a decision on the Delhi Police’s request for a further three days of judicial custody.

Earlier in the day, the Delhi High Court allowed Das and Ranka to withdraw their plea seeking their release and challenging the SEM court’s order extending their custody, without expressing any opinion on the merits of the matter.

A single-judge Bench of Justice Subramonium Prasad had asked the counsel representing the two activists to consider withdrawing the petition and await the SEM court proceedings before pursuing an appropriate legal remedy.

The court observed that if the activists secured relief from the SEM court, continuing the proceedings before it would serve no purpose.

The development comes after SEM Ritu Raj extended the judicial custody of the two CJP leaders until October 21 on Monday, observing that their conduct raised concerns about the likelihood of a breach of peace and disturbance of public tranquillity.

In its order, the SEM court recorded that the two leaders had allegedly violated bonds furnished before the SEM, South-West District, on October 11 and subsequently committed a breach of peace in the present case.

The magistrate also cited material placed on record by the investigating officer regarding the apprehension of a breach of peace and disturbance of public tranquillity.

The order further directed the duo to furnish fresh sureties after an inquiry found the earlier ones unfit.

Das and Ranka, along with CJP member Ajinkya Shinde, were among 14 people detained on October 13 after they allegedly entered Jantar Mantar through private premises and obstructed police personnel from discharging their official duties.

The CJP members were protesting against alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and raised slogans against Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar.

The Delhi Police had earlier opposed their release, citing alleged repeated violations of the law and apprehensions that their release could lead to further violations and encourage others to engage in similar acts.