‘No Respect for Law’: SEM Extends CJP Leaders Saurav Das, Ashutosh Ranka’s Custody Till October 21

A Special Executive Magistrate (SEM) court on Monday extended the judicial custody of Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka until October 21, observing that their conduct showed “no respect for law” and reflected a pattern of organising protests at de-notified areas.

In its order, SEM Ritu Raj said the two leaders had allegedly breached 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 (Das and Ranka) 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 said the assurance given by the two leaders during arguments that they would not repeat the alleged offence did not inspire confidence in view of their previous conduct and the material submitted 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.

According to the order, the investigating officer had cited repeated social media appeals by the respondents to mobilise people for protests at locations not designated for demonstrations, including Jantar Mantar and Connaught Place, despite the availability of other authorised protest venues.

The counsel representing Das and Ranka argued that the two leaders had not called for any protests after October 10 and assured the court that they would not repeat the alleged conduct.

The SEM, however, found the assurance insufficient in light of the material on record and directed the respondents to submit their arguments in writing within two days, with an advance copy to be provided to the investigating officer.

The magistrate also rejected the sureties furnished on behalf of the two leaders following an inquiry, citing discrepancies in identity documents and the sureties’ inability to provide basic information about the individuals for whom they had stood guarantee. The court directed the respondents to furnish fresh sureties.

Das and Ranka were ordered to remain in judicial custody until October 21 and were directed to be produced before the court at 2 p.m. on that day.

The two CJP leaders were initially remanded to five days of judicial custody on October 14 in connection with the Jantar Mantar trespassing case. They were among 14 people detained on October 13 after allegedly entering the de-notified protest site through private premises and obstructing police personnel from performing 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.