In a significant legal development unfolding in the national capital, the troubles for two prominent leaders of the Cockroach Janata Party, known as CJP, appear to be escalating. Delhi Police has formally requested a five-day extension of judicial custody for CJP leaders Ashutosh Ranka and Saurav Das. During the course of the hearing on this critical matter, the Special Executive Magistrate or SEM court has reserved its comprehensive order regarding the extension request. This entire turn of events has generated considerable political and legal buzz, with everyone awaiting the court's imminent verdict.
According to the detailed sequence of events, CJP leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka were preventively arrested on October 13 on serious charges of entering the sensitive Jantar Mantar area without any prior permission or authorization. Immediately following their arrest, both leaders were produced before the court, which had initially remanded them to a five-day judicial custody. Under established legal procedures, a special petition was moved in the SEM court today seeking their release, triggering a detailed hearing after which the court reserved its final decision.
Delhi Police Official Statement and Grounds for Arrest
Providing its official stance on the entire episode, Delhi Police had earlier issued a comprehensive statement. According to the police, the incident occurred on the morning of October 13 when Saurav Das, Ashutosh Ranka, Ajinkya शिंदे, and 11 other members of the Cockroach Janata Party stealthily reached Jantar Mantar by passing through a private premises. The police noted that Jantar Mantar has already been officially removed from the designated list of protest sites, making the arrival of demonstrators there a direct violation of established regulations.
As per the police account, vigilant security personnel deployed at the venue made earnest attempts to stop all of them, but the protesters obstructed the police personnel from discharging their official duties. The police statement clarified that a total of 14 individuals were taken into custody from the spot to maintain law and order. Police officials stated that Saurav Das, Ashutosh Ranka, and Ajinkya Shinde were preventively arrested in view of their alleged attempts to breach public peace and violate statutory provisions, while however, their associate Ajinkya Shinde in the same matter was later released on bail on the strict condition of maintaining peace and good behavior.
Sensational Allegations of Threats to SEM Court During Bail Hearings
Another grave dimension of this ongoing controversy has emerged, raising serious concerns for both security agencies and the judiciary. While the bail plea for CJP leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka was being heard, an incident involving an alleged threat made to a magistrate surfaced, prompting the police to register a Non-Cognizable Report or NCR against unknown persons on Sunday.
On the other hand, the Cockroach Janata Party has leveled serious allegations against the police and the judicial process, while the party explicitly claims that the release of its two top leaders is being intentionally and unnecessarily delayed. The party asserts that the guarantees provided by four sureties related to the bail have been rejected on entirely vague and ambiguous grounds. According to Ratna Singh, the head of the party's legal cell, the Special Executive Magistrate had informed her about receiving a threatening message, which has lent an even graver twist to the entire controversy, while all eyes are now firmly fixed on the forthcoming order of the SEM court that will determine the future course of judicial custody or release for these leaders.