CJP Leaders Saurav Das, Ashutosh Ranka Move Delhi HC Against Judicial Custody

Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka have moved the Delhi High Court seeking their release, as per media reports. The two leaders have challenged the Special Executive Magistrate’s order extending their judicial custody till October 21 in connection with the alleged breach of peace at Jantar Mantar.

The move comes a day after Special Executive Magistrate Ritu Raj extended their custody by two days, observing that their conduct showed “no respect for law” and reflected their “habitualness in calling protest at de-notified areas”.

According to the media reports, the two leaders are challenging the custody extension in proceedings arising from their alleged entry into Jantar Mantar after the site was de-notified as a designated protest venue.

In the October 19 order, the magistrate said the investigating officer had placed substantial material on record raising concerns about the likelihood of a breach of peace and disturbance of public tranquillity.

The magistrate also held that the two had allegedly breached the peace bonds executed before the South-West District magistrate on October 11 and subsequently committed a breach of peace in the present case. Their assurance that they would not repeat the alleged conduct did not inspire confidence, the order stated.

Why did the magistrate extend custody?

Delhi Police had sought a five-day extension of custody, alleging that Das and Ranka had mobilised the public to assemble at Jantar Mantar despite the site having been de-notified as a designated protest venue.

The investigating officer also alleged that the two had repeatedly called for protests at non-designated sites, including Connaught Place, through social media posts. The police further cited an alleged threatening communication to the magistrate’s predecessor, for which a separate daily diary entry was registered.

The magistrate observed that the material placed on record raised serious concerns about a possible breach of peace and disturbance of public tranquillity that could not be brushed aside without proper consideration.

Court also rejected the sureties produced on behalf of the two leaders after finding discrepancies during an inquiry. One surety could not explain an apparent mismatch between photographs on the surety bond and Aadhaar card, while another allegedly failed to provide basic details about the person for whom they had stood surety.

The magistrate directed the leaders to furnish fresh sureties and listed the matter for October 21 at 2 pm.

Detention over Jantar Mantar protest

Das and Ranka, along with CJP member Ajinkya Shinde, were among those detained by Delhi Police on October 13 after entering the Jantar Mantar area through private premises and obstructing police personnel from discharging their duties.

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

The police action followed the removal of Jantar Mantar from the list of designated protest venues. Delhi Police had alleged that the two leaders violated the conditions of peace bonds they had furnished earlier.

Das and Ranka were initially remanded to five days of judicial custody on October 14. When that period ended, the magistrate extended their custody by two more days on October 19.