A Special Executive Magistrate on Monday extended the judicial custody of Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka by two days, till October 21, in connection with a case of alleged trespassing and violation of peace bonds at the Jantar Mantar protest site.
The two leaders were produced before the magistrate at Mandir Marg police station. Police had sought a longer extension citing their past conduct, but the court ordered that they remain in judicial custody until Wednesday and be produced again at 2 p.m. on that date.
The magistrate observed that the conduct of the respondents reflected “no respect for law” and a habitual tendency to call for protests at de-notified areas. The court rejected assurances given by their counsel that they would not repeat the alleged acts, noting past conduct and material placed on record by the investigating officer. It also directed the filing of fresh sureties after finding discrepancies in the documents submitted earlier.
Das and Ranka, along with other CJP members, were detained on October 13 after allegedly entering the Jantar Mantar premises—which had been denotified as a designated protest site—through private premises and raising slogans against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. They were among about 14 persons held that day. Police booked them on charges including trespassing, violation of prohibitory orders, breach of peace bonds, and obstructing public servants.
The leaders had earlier been detained on October 10–11 and released after executing bonds to maintain peace and good behaviour. Authorities alleged that subsequent social media calls to mobilise people for protests at non-designated locations, including Jantar Mantar and Connaught Place, amounted to a breach of those bonds.
CJP, a youth-led group that has been protesting alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, has denied wrongdoing. Party members and supporters have described the detentions as an attempt to stifle dissent. An associate, Ajinkya Shinde, was earlier released on a personal bond after being bound down for six months.
The case will come up for further hearing on October 21. Both leaders are currently lodged in Tihar Jail.
