Delhi Magistrate Orders Release of CJP Leaders After Week-Long Custody
New Delhi: Two prominent spokespersons for the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka, have been released from judicial custody following an order by a Special Executive Magistrate in Delhi. The duo had been detained since October 14 after they defied restrictions at the Jantar Mantar, an area currently denotified as a sanctioned protest site.
The release marks the end of an eight-day standoff that began when Das and Ranka climbed over locked gates at the historic protest venue to wave the national flag. The action was intended as a symbolic protest against the authorities’ decision to restrict access to the site. However, the move triggered immediate legal consequences, with the prosecution alleging that the act constituted a direct violation of a peace bond the two men had previously signed following an earlier detention on October 10.
Legal Battle and High Court Observations
Following their arrest, the CJP—an organization spearheaded by activist Abhijeet Dipke—accused authorities of orchestrating procedural delays to keep the spokespersons incarcerated. The matter eventually reached the Delhi High Court as the party sought legal intervention to secure their release.
During the court proceedings, the bench expressed significant concerns regarding the nature of public agitations. While addressing the petition, the court drew parallels to international unrest, noting that peaceful demonstrations can occasionally escalate into violence.
“You are at the forefront,” the bench remarked, addressing the petitioners. “When you break barricades, there are chances that more people may follow. We have seen it happen outside our country. What started as student protests turned into something with arson and burning of buildings.”
The court also scrutinized the demographic and tactical shifts in the party’s protests. Observing that the spokespersons, aged 27 and 31, fall outside the typical student-protest demographic, the judges questioned the evolution of the CJP’s grievances. The party, which had previously mobilized students regarding paper leaks such as the NEET examination, has shifted its focus to demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The CJP alleges irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision of voter rolls and claims the Commission has been functioning in a unilateral manner.
Relief from the Magistrate
Despite the Delhi Police requesting a three-day extension of judicial custody during the final hearing, the Special Executive Magistrate opted to grant relief to the activists. Following a deliberation where both the prosecution and the defense presented their arguments, the magistrate ruled in favor of release, noting that the required sureties and peace bonds had been successfully processed.
The order was issued shortly after 6:00 pm, concluding a period of detention that began with a five-day remand and was later extended by two additional days. The release of Das and Ranka is expected to revive discussions regarding the right to protest in the capital and the ongoing tension between activists and civil authorities over designated demonstration zones.
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