New Delhi: The Delhi High Court Wednesday agreed to hear urgently a plea filed by Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) activists Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka seeking their release from custody in connection with the Jantar Mantar trespassing case.
The development comes on the day their judicial custody is due to end, with the two activists also scheduled to be produced before the Special Executive Magistrate (SEM) court.
CJP’s legal affairs head, Ratna Singh, said on Tuesday that the duo had moved the High Court and requested an urgent hearing at night.
“We have moved the Delhi High Court and requested an urgent night hearing. Saurav and Ashutosh should not spend a single minute behind bars. Their liberty must not be curtailed because of political games. Justice must not wait,” she said in a post on X.
On Monday, SEM Ritu Raj had extended their custody, observing that their conduct “shows no respect for law” and reflects their “habitualness in calling protest at de-notified areas”.
In its order, the SEM court said the Investigating Officer had placed substantial material on record, raising concerns over the likelihood of a breach of peace and disturbance of public tranquillity.
It also recorded that the two leaders had allegedly breached the bonds furnished by them before the SEM, South-West District, October 11 and subsequently committed a breach of peace in the present case.
The SEM further observed that their assurance that they would not repeat the alleged offence did not inspire confidence in view of their past conduct and the material placed on record by the Investigating Officer.
Das and Ranka, along with party member Ajinkya Shinde, were among 14 people detained on October 13 after they allegedly entered Jantar Mantar through private premises and obstructed police personnel from discharging their official duties.
The CJP members were protesting against alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and had raised slogans against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
Delhi Police had justified their continued custody, citing repeated violations of law and apprehensions that their release could lead to further violations and instigation of others.
The SEM court had also found the sureties furnished on behalf of the two leaders unfit following an enquiry, citing discrepancies in identity documents and their inability to provide basic details about the persons for whom they stood surety. It had directed them to furnish fresh sureties.
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