Three Cockroach Janata Party activists are expected to appear before a Special Executive Magistrate court in Delhi on Friday in connection with the October 13 protest at Jantar Mantar, after they did not attend Crime Branch questioning the previous day.
Saurav Das, Ashutosh Ranka and Ajinkya Shinde were summoned to the Delhi Police Crime Branch office in Rajouri Garden at noon on Thursday. According to the report, the three activists did not appear and sought additional time to join the investigation. Police are expected to issue fresh notices.
The activists have been asked to join questioning between 10 am and 4 pm on Friday, ahead of the SEM court hearing scheduled for 3 pm. Their appearance before the Crime Branch will depend on whether they decide to participate in the investigation before the court proceedings.
The case relates to a protest held at Jantar Mantar on October 13. The site had been denotified as a designated protest venue. Police alleged that the activists entered the area through private premises and violated conditions connected with maintaining peace. The investigation concerns the circumstances of the protest and the alleged breach of restrictions applicable to the site.
The latest hearing follows an order directing the release of Das and Ranka from judicial custody after the court accepted their personal and surety bonds and recorded written undertakings. Special Executive Magistrate Ritu Raj directed each of the two activists to furnish personal and surety bonds of Rs 50,000, which will remain in force until the enquiry concludes.
The court also directed them to attend every hearing and comply with the conditions in their bonds and undertakings. In their written undertakings, Das and Ranka agreed not to breach peace or disturb public tranquillity. They also agreed not to call for protests at Jantar Mantar until the site is denotified in accordance with the law.
The undertakings state that any future demonstrations would be held within the constitutional framework. The court said further judicial custody did not appear necessary at that stage, particularly after the written undertakings were submitted. The release order does not close the matter: the SEM court has clarified that the enquiry will continue in accordance with the law.
The proceedings place the administration of Jantar Mantar at the centre of the case. The venue has historically been used for demonstrations in the capital, while decisions on its status and the conditions governing access determine where and how protests can be held. In this case, the police investigation and the court’s conditions are operating alongside the question of whether the site can be used as a designated protest location.
The next immediate steps are the activists’ scheduled appearance before the SEM court and any decision by the Crime Branch on fresh notices or questioning. The enquiry will continue subject to the bonds, undertakings and other conditions recorded by the court.
