Court Order / ‘No Respect for Law’: Delhi Court Extends Custody of CJP Leaders Saurav Das & Ashutosh Ranka Till Oct 21

 New Delhi, Oct 19: A Special Executive Magistrate (SEM) court on Monday extended the judicial custody of Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka till October 21, observing that their conduct reflected a disregard for the law and a tendency to repeatedly organise protests at de-notified sites.

In an order, SEM Ritu Raj said the two leaders had allegedly violated the bonds furnished before the SEM, South-West District, on October 11 and subsequently committed a breach of peace in the present case.

"The grounds of apprehension as presented before me apparently suggest that the conduct of the respondents is not above board; rather it shows no respect for law and their habitualness in calling protest at de-notified areas," the order stated.

The magistrate noted that the assurance given by the respondents during arguments that they would not repeat the alleged offence did not inspire confidence in light of their past conduct and the material placed on record by the investigating officer.

"The application filed by IO is supported by substantial material on record, raising serious concerns regarding the likelihood of breach of peace and disturbance of public tranquillity, which cannot be brushed aside without proper consideration," the order said.

The court recorded that the investigating officer had pointed to repeated social media calls by the respondents to mobilise people for protests at non-designated locations, including Jantar Mantar and Connaught Place, despite the availability of approved protest venues.

Counsel for the respondents argued that the two leaders had not issued any protest calls after October 10 and assured the court that they would not repeat the alleged acts.

Rejecting the assurance as inadequate, the SEM directed the respondents to file written submissions within two days and provide an advance copy to the investigating officer.

The magistrate also rejected the sureties furnished on behalf of the respondents, citing discrepancies in identity documents and the inability of the sureties to provide basic details about the persons for whom they had stood guarantee. Fresh sureties were directed to be furnished.
Also Read: CJP Leaders Saurav Das, Ashutosh Ranka Sent to Judicial Custody for Repeat Law Violations

Das and Ranka were remanded to judicial custody till October 21 and ordered to be produced before the court at 2 p.m. on that date.

The two leaders were initially sent to five-day judicial custody on October 14 in connection with the Jantar Mantar trespassing case. They were among 14 persons detained on October 13 after allegedly entering the de-notified protest site through private premises and obstructing police personnel in the discharge of their 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.

 (WIth inputs from IANS)