NEW DELHI: A Special Executive Magistrate (SEM) in Delhi on Monday (October 19) extended the judicial custody of Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka by two days in connection with their alleged unauthorised entry into Jantar Mantar last week.
The Delhi Police had sought a five-day extension, citing the alleged breach of a peace bond executed by the two leaders earlier this month. The SEM, however, granted custody for two days. Both leaders were sent back to Tihar Jail following the proceedings.
Das and Ranka were detained on October 13 after allegedly scaling the locked gates of Jantar Mantar, which had been de-notified as a designated protest venue a day earlier. They were produced before SEM Mahesh Kumar Meena on October 14 and remanded to five days of judicial custody.
The police had earlier contended that the two leaders violated their undertaking not to engage in activities likely to disturb public peace. The proceedings also concern allegations that they had called upon people through social media to assemble at Jantar Mantar. The two had previously faced preventive detention proceedings under Sections 126 and 170 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) and were reportedly required to furnish bonds of Rs 50,000.
The SEM observed that Das and Ranka had breached their bonds and that their conduct showed no respect for the law, particularly as they had called for a protest at the de-notified Jantar Mantar site. The court also expressed serious concerns about a possible breach of peace and tranquillity. It found the sureties furnished by the two leaders unfit, citing discrepancies in photographs. The court further recorded that the sureties had no control over the respondents to ensure their appearance before it and directed them to furnish fresh sureties.
The extension of custody comes amid a separate controversy surrounding the bail proceedings. Delhi Police have registered an FIR against unidentified persons over allegations that the SEM was threatened during the hearing. The CJP, meanwhile, has accused the authorities of deliberately delaying the release of its leaders.
The dispute arose during protests against alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The CJP has also been demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
