New Delhi: Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka walked out of Tihar Jail on Wednesday, October 21, after a Delhi court rejected the police request to extend their judicial custody by another three days.
The Special Executive Magistrate (SEM) court ordered their release after accepting personal bonds and sureties of ₹50,000 each and written undertakings to maintain peace and public tranquillity. The court held that further custody was not necessary at this stage, given the assurances submitted by the two leaders.
Their release came after seven days in judicial custody following their detention over a protest at Jantar Mantar, where they had demanded the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
Why Did Delhi Police Seek an Extension?
Delhi Police sought a further three-day extension of the leaders’ judicial custody, arguing that there remained a risk of a breach of peace and disruption of law and order.
The police cited their alleged conduct during the earlier protest and statements made by party members in the media. They also argued that the leaders’ written submissions before the court were inconsistent with some of their public statements.
The defence counsel offered an unconditional apology during the proceedings and assured the court that similar conduct would not be repeated.
After considering the submissions, the magistrate concluded that the preventive purpose of the proceedings could be achieved through bonds and written undertakings rather than continued detention.
What Led to Their Arrest?
Das and Ranka were detained on October 13 after allegedly attempting to enter Jantar Mantar, which had been de-notified as a designated protest site.
According to reports, the two leaders and other CJP members attempted to cross a locked gate and police barricades while carrying the national flag and raising slogans against the Chief Election Commissioner.
The protest was linked to the party’s demand for accountability over the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.
Police initiated preventive proceedings, alleging that the leaders had violated conditions attached to earlier peace bonds. The two were remanded to five days of judicial custody on October 14, and their custody was extended by another two days on October 19.
The allegations remain allegations; the custody proceedings did not establish their guilt.
Conditions Attached to Their Release
The magistrate accepted the leaders’ undertakings after they agreed to comply with conditions intended to prevent further disturbances.
Under the undertakings, Das and Ranka agreed to:
- Maintain peace and avoid disturbing public tranquillity.
- Refrain from calling for protests at Jantar Mantar until the site is legally restored as a designated protest venue.
- Conduct any future protests within the constitutional framework.
- Attend every hearing and comply with the conditions of their bonds.
The court also directed the investigating officer to submit a report verifying the sureties. The leaders and their sureties were ordered to appear at the next hearing, scheduled for October 23 at 3 pm.
CJP Leaders Had Approached Delhi High Court
Before their release, Das and Ranka approached the Delhi High Court to challenge the extension of their judicial custody.
Justice Subramonium Prasad asked them to await the outcome of the proceedings before the Special Executive Magistrate and indicated that they could approach the appropriate appellate forum if their grievance remained unresolved.
The leaders subsequently withdrew their petition. The High Court clarified that it had not expressed a final view on the merits of their challenge.
CJP Welcomes the Release
The release was welcomed by CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke, who praised the two leaders in a post on social media.
The party’s legal head, Ratna Singh, also welcomed the court’s decision, while maintaining that the release should have come earlier.
The development marked the end of the leaders’ week-long detention, but the proceedings concerning the alleged breach of peace and their conduct around the Jantar Mantar protest remain subject to further examination.
What Happens Next?
The next hearing is scheduled for October 23, when the court is expected to receive the verification report on the sureties and continue the proceedings.
The release does not amount to a final determination of the allegations against the two leaders. They remain bound by the conditions imposed by the court and are required to attend subsequent hearings.
The case has brought renewed attention to restrictions on demonstrations at Jantar Mantar, preventive detention powers and the balance between maintaining public order and exercising the right to peaceful protest.
For now, the court’s decision allows Das and Ranka to leave custody while the legal proceedings continue.
