Delhi Police pose around 70 questions to CJP leaders over Jantar Mantar protest

Three Cockroach Janta Party leaders were questioned by the Delhi Police Crime Branch for around four hours over their October 13 protest at Jantar Mantar. Police sources said they were asked around 70 questions in connection with two FIRs

New Delhi: Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) leaders Saurav Das, Ashutosh Ranka and Ajinkya Shinde were questioned by the Delhi Police Crime Branch for around four hours on Thursday in connection with two FIRs related to their protest at Jantar Mantar on October 13, police said.

The three leaders reached the Crime Branch office in Rajouri Garden around 11 am, and the questioning concluded at around 3 pm, they said.

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Around 70 questions were put to them during the questioning, but they did not respond to some of them, police sources said.

The CJP leaders appeared before the Crime Branch in connection with two FIRs registered against them for allegedly entering the denotified protest site at Jantar Mantar on October 13.

The FIRs, registered at Connaught Place and Parliament Street police stations, were later transferred to the Crime Branch for investigation. The cases pertain to allegations of illegal trespass through private property to reach Jantar Mantar and violation of restrictions at the site.

CJP leaders had staged a protest and unfurled the national flag at Jantar Mantar.

Speaking to reporters outside the Crime Branch office after the questioning, Ranka said it was a routine investigation related to the October 13 incident.

“We have said it before and are saying it again that whatever investigation is happening, we will cooperate with it. Unfurling of the Tiranga anywhere should not be a crime. We have all the hope that the investigation will be conducted in a good manner and we will cooperate with it,” he said.

The questioning was conducted by officers of the inspector rank, sources said.

The leaders had been summoned to join the probe earlier as well but had sought more time and did not appear.

Further investigation is underway.