The Delhi Police has sought five more days of custody for Cockroach Janata Party co-convenors Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka, who were arrested after allegedly entering Jantar Mantar during protests against the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls. The two were due to appear before the Special Executive Magistrate court at Mandir Marg police station around 2 pm on October 19.
Das and Ranka were produced before the court after spending five days in judicial custody. The police has told the court that the two could again issue a call for protests. The duo has denied making any fresh protest call and argued that there was no reason to deny them bail.
The arrests followed an incident on October 14, when a group of 14 people, including Das, Ranka and CJP national organisation in-charge Ajinkya Shinde, allegedly entered Jantar Mantar through a narrow lane behind the Janata Dal (United) office. Police officers said the group climbed over a locked iron gate, entered the protest area, unfurled the Tricolour and raised slogans.
Jantar Mantar had been denotified as a protest site, according to the report. Two separate cases were registered against the group. One case was filed at Connaught Place police station under provisions relating to disobedience of an order issued by a public servant, house trespass and criminal conspiracy. The second case was registered at Parliament Street police station.
The police had previously indicated that it would seek an extension of custody because Das and Ranka allegedly issued protest calls despite filing bonds and agreeing not to organise such protests for one year. The two had earlier been released after submitting personal and surety bonds of Rs 50,000 each to keep the peace and maintain good behaviour.
The matter has also been linked to alleged threat messages sent to the Special Executive Magistrate hearing the case. Police sources said the force would seek permission to initiate an inquiry into those messages. An FIR was registered in New Delhi district under provisions relating to criminal intimidation after a complaint by the magistrate.
Ratna Singh, a spokesperson and legal adviser for CJP, said in a post on X that the hearing was scheduled for 2 pm and expressed hope that the two leaders would be released. She had earlier alleged that the police was deliberately delaying the bail proceedings. At a briefing, Singh said the hearing had been repeatedly pushed back and that the magistrate had referred to receiving threats. She questioned how those threats were connected to the case against Das and Ranka and alleged that the authorities were not approving the sureties.
The wider dispute began after CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke, Das and Ranka arrived in Delhi on October 10 to protest and demand the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The trio was detained after landing and released the following day after filing personal and surety bonds. The October 14 incident led to their subsequent detention along with members of the larger group.
The Special Executive Magistrate court at Mandir Marg police station is expected to consider the police request for extended custody and the bail submissions during the scheduled hearing.
