India’s Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) accused Delhi Police on Oct. 18 of delaying the release of leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka after their protest at Jantar Mantar.
Police denied deliberately delaying their release. They said the proposed surety bonds were defective and that Special Executive Magistrate Mahesh Kumar Meena had reported a threat connected to the case.
CJP legal affairs head Ratna Singh said the party expected a hearing on Oct. 18. She said officials rejected four proposed sureties and that, after a wait of several hours for the magistrate, the proceedings focused on the reported threat instead of the leaders’ release.
Police sources told The Telegraph that no hearing had been scheduled for Oct. 18, disputing Singh’s account. Meena’s earlier order set Oct. 19 for further inquiry, though that date does not establish whether a separate hearing was arranged for Oct. 18.
In his Oct. 14 order, Meena placed Das and Ranka in judicial custody for five days. He cited an alleged breach of earlier peace bonds and the absence of an acceptable surety at that stage. The order records investigators’ allegation that the pair and others entered Jantar Mantar on Oct. 13 after it ceased to be a designated protest site.
The News Minute reported that an Oct. 11 Delhi Police standing order named Ramlila Ground, Burari Ground and CBD Ground as alternative protest venues. The change followed recommendations from a committee established by the Ministry of Home Affairs.
CJP has protested against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls, which it says threatens voting rights.
Meena’s Oct. 14 order lists Oct. 19 for the next inquiry into the leaders’ detention.
