A Special Executive Magistrate in Delhi on Wednesday ordered the release of Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka, who had been in judicial custody since October 14 over a protest at Jantar Mantar against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
The two were detained for allegedly violating prohibitory orders and breaching peace bonds while protesting against alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and seeking Kumar’s resignation.
The magistrate had initially remanded them to five days of judicial custody on October 14. Their custody was extended by two days on October 19.
The release order came hours after Das and Ranka withdrew their petition challenging their detention before the Delhi High Court.
Court Sets Conditions for Release
The magistrate recorded written undertakings from both leaders that they would maintain peace and not engage in activities that could disturb public order.
They also undertook not to call for protests at Jantar Mantar until the site was formally denotified in accordance with the law. They further agreed that any protests they organised would remain within the constitutional framework.
Both leaders were directed to furnish personal bonds and sureties of Rs 50,000 each. The court recorded that they had complied with the requirement and directed them to appear on every hearing date and adhere to the conditions of their bonds and undertakings.
High Court Petition Withdrawn
Earlier on Wednesday, Justice Subramonium Prasad questioned why the two leaders had approached the High Court without first pursuing the alternative legal remedies available to them.
“Would it not be better for you to withdraw this, see what happens at 2 PM and then follow the course of law,” the judge said.
Their lawyer, Abhik Chimni, challenged the October 19 custody extension, arguing that the order did not adequately explain the immediate threat posed by the two leaders. He also raised concerns over the rejection of their sureties and sought their release on personal bonds.
The High Court allowed them to withdraw the petition without expressing an opinion on its merits.
Detained After Alleged Breach of Peace Bonds
Das and Ranka were first detained at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport on October 10 ahead of planned protests against Kumar. They were subjected to preventive proceedings under Sections 126 and 170 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) and released after furnishing peace bonds of Rs 50,000 each.
They were apprehended again on October 14 for allegedly attempting to stage a protest at Jantar Mantar on October 13 in violation of the conditions of their bonds.
In its October 19 order, Special Executive Magistrate Ritu Raj observed that the two had deliberately breached their bonds and posed a risk of disturbing public peace. The magistrate also sought fresh sureties after raising concerns about the documents submitted during the proceedings.
