New Delhi Special Executive Magistrate Ritu Raj freed Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) after they agreed not to call protests at Jantar Mantar during its de-notification.
Delhi Police had asked to keep the pair in judicial custody for three additional days. In her Oct. 21 order, Raj said continued detention was not warranted after she reviewed their written commitments and bonds. Police had raised concerns about maintaining peace, and Raj found the promises and bonds addressed those concerns at that point.
The two undertook to maintain peace and respect constitutional limits in any protest they joined. They also promised to refrain from making protest calls at Jantar Mantar while the location remains off the designated protest-site list.
Police alleged Das and Ranka entered Jantar Mantar on Oct. 13 despite earlier peace bonds. A magistrate remanded them to judicial custody on Oct. 14. Reports said the pair spent seven days in judicial custody before their release.
The CJP leaders have sought Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation over alleged irregularities in the revision of electoral rolls. The allegations have been made by the protesters.
The Indian Express reported that a Delhi Police order dated Oct. 11 removed Jantar Mantar from the designated protest locations and named Ramlila Ground, Burari Ground and CBD Ground as alternatives. The newspaper cited a police submission to the Delhi High Court.
CJP had accused police of delaying the leaders’ release. Police denied deliberate delay and said the proposed surety bonds were defective, as detailed in EconoTimes’ earlier coverage of the release dispute.
Separately, The Indian Express reported Thursday, citing Delhi Police sources, that the Crime Branch summoned Das, Ranka and CJP member Ajinkya Shinde in a trespassing case. The newspaper also reported that two cases linked to the Oct. 13 incident had been transferred to the branch. The next inquiry proceeding is scheduled for 5:30 a.m. ET (9:30 UTC) Friday, Oct. 23.
