A Special Executive Magistrate (SEM) court at Delhi’s Mandir Marg Police Station on Monday extended the judicial custody of Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) leaders Ashutosh Ranka and Saurav Das by two days, amid a dispute over their continued detention following a protest at Jantar Mantar.
The Delhi Police had sought five more days of custody, arguing that the two leaders could organise further protests and disturb public order. However, Ranka and Das maintained that they had made no fresh call for a protest and questioned the grounds for extending their detention.
The two were produced before the SEM after spending five days in judicial custody. They were detained on October 13 after allegedly climbing a locked gate to enter Jantar Mantar, which had been de-notified as a designated protest site. They and other CJP workers had gathered there to display the national flag during protests against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
Police Cite Concerns Over Further Protests
During Monday’s proceedings, police reportedly argued that CJP leaders, including founder Abhijeet Dipke, were planning another protest. They cited Dipke’s reported remarks at the airport on Sunday that the party would discuss its next course of action.
A CJP spokesperson denied that the organisation had planned another protest, saying it had not even announced any such programme on social media.
According to reports, the police sought additional custody on the grounds that the release of Ranka and Das could affect public order and “peace and tranquility”.
CJP Alleges Deliberate Delays
CJP leaders have accused the authorities of deliberately delaying the release of Ranka and Das, alleging that repeated objections to their surety documents had prolonged the proceedings.
Party founder Abhijeet Dipke earlier alleged that the authorities were using delaying tactics because they had no legal grounds to keep the two leaders in custody.
“The state is deliberately prolonging Ashu and Saurav’s illegal arrest by using every dirty trick in the book to delay court proceedings and prevent their release,” Dipke said.
Ratna Singh, the party’s head of legal affairs, also criticised the proceedings and demanded the release of the two leaders. She said the hearing had been delayed and questioned the arguments presented by the prosecution.
Delhi Police denied deliberately delaying the proceedings, saying the required legal procedures were being followed and that the surety documents submitted by the party were faulty.
FIR Registered Over Threats to Magistrate
The Delhi Police has also registered an FIR following a complaint by the SEM, who reportedly said he had received threats and faced mental harassment over the detention of the two leaders.
During an earlier hearing, the magistrate raised concerns about the alleged threats, leaving the question of their release unresolved. Police said the complaint was being investigated.
Ranka and Das were initially remanded to five days of judicial custody after the authorities alleged that they had breached a surety bond to maintain peace.
