CJP warns of legal action over continued detention of two leaders

Cockroach Janta Party leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka remained in judicial custody amid allegations of delays in their bail hearing. Activist Ratna Singh claimed four sureties were rejected on vague grounds and accused authorities of procedural delays.\

New Delhi: The bail hearing of Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka was “delayed” on Sunday as the Special Executive Magistrate (SEM) did not arrive at the scheduled time, activist Ratna Singh said, alleging that four sureties had been rejected on “vague” grounds.

Das and Ranka were sent to five days of judicial custody on October 14 after they entered Jantar Mantar, which had been denotified as a designated protest site, by scaling its locked gates. The CJP leaders maintained that they had unfurled the national flag and raised slogans.

In a post on X, Singh said she had been at the police station since 11 am, while the hearing was scheduled for noon. She said the Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP/SEM) had not arrived at Mandir Marg police station by 4.42 pm.

“This is really concerning. They have rejected four sureties till now on vague grounds. They have made people who have FIRs against them for being part of a protest appear to have criminal antecedents,” Singh alleged.

There was no response from the police to the allegations.

In another post, Singh said, “Unfurling the Indian National Flag is not a crime, and the boys should not remain in custody due to procedural delays.”

Questioning the functioning of SEM courts in the national capital, Singh said higher courts had asked authorities to follow the hierarchy and alleged an “absolute misuse of power”.

On Saturday, the CJP said in a post on X that it had consulted senior advocate Kapil Sibal and warned of legal action if Das and Ranka were not released by Sunday.

“If Ashu and Saurav are not released by tomorrow, we will pursue legal action against all those who deliberately ensured that they continue to be in illegal custody, especially when they have not committed nor been charged with any offence,” the outfit had said.

“The deliberate use of delaying tactics to keep them behind bars cannot go unchallenged. Those responsible will be held accountable,” it added.

The outfit has been protesting against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, alleging that the exercise threatens voters’ rights.