The Delhi Police on Tuesday transferred another case registered against Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka to the Crime Branch, taking the number of cases against the two leaders being investigated by the unit to two, reported PTI quoting police sources.
The latest development comes amid the leaders’ legal challenge to a Special Executive Magistrate’s decision to reject their sureties and extend their judicial custody following their detention during a protest at Jantar Mantar on October 13.
The other case against Das and Ranka, linked to their alleged entry into the Jantar Mantar area, was transferred to the Crime Branch on Monday.
According to Delhi Police, Das, Ranka, Ajinkya Shinde and 11 other members of the CJP reached Jantar Mantar on October 13, allegedly trespassing through private premises to enter the area. The site had been denotified as a designated protest venue.
Police personnel deployed at the spot intervened and attempted to stop them. All 14 people were detained, and two FIRs were registered in connection with the incident.
The protest reportedly involved slogans demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The Election Commission has denied allegations of political bias in the revision process.
Das and Ranka were produced before a Special Executive Magistrate on October 14 and remanded to five days of judicial custody for allegedly breaching peace bonds. Their custody was extended by another two days on October 19, keeping them in Tihar Jail until October 21.
The custody extension followed the rejection of sureties submitted on behalf of the two leaders. Reports said the magistrate found the sureties unsatisfactory following an inquiry, citing discrepancies between photographs on the surety documents and Aadhaar cards, concerns over identity verification and doubts about whether the sureties could ensure compliance with the conditions imposed on the leaders.
The magistrate also reportedly cited apprehensions about a possible breach of peace and further disturbances.
The CJP leaders have approached the Delhi High Court challenging the rejection of their sureties and their continued detention, arguing that the decision is arbitrary and infringes their fundamental right to personal liberty under Article 21 of the Constitution.
Their petition reportedly contends that they submitted supporting documents, including personal bonds and fixed deposit receipts, but the authorities rejected the sureties. They have also questioned the justification for extending their custody based on apprehensions of public disorder.
The leaders are seeking urgent judicial intervention and release. Their challenge places the magistrate’s decision under scrutiny over the grounds for rejecting the sureties, the necessity of continued detention and compliance with procedural safeguards governing preventive proceedings.
Delhi Police has opposed their release, citing concerns over public order, alleged violations of protest restrictions and the possibility of further mobilisation, according to reports.
The transfer of the two cases to the Crime Branch marks a further development in the investigation into the October 13 incident. The outcome of the High Court challenge and any subsequent orders concerning the leaders’ custody remain unconfirmed in the information available.
(With inputs from PTI)
