Delhi Court Remands CJP Leaders Saurav Das, Ashutosh Ranka To Five Days Judicial Custody For 'Trespassing' At Jantar Mantar

Delhi's Special Executive Magistrate Court on Wednesday remanded Cockroach Janta Party leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka to five days of judicial custody after they were put under preventive arrest by Delhi Police on allegations of entering Jantar Mantar on October 13.

Another CJP leader Ajinkya Shinde has been released on personal bond.

In the order dated October 14, Special Executive Magistrate Mahesh Kumar Meena issued notice to the two under Section 130 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), after finding sufficient grounds to proceed against them over the alleged breach of bonds executed to maintain peace.

The magistrate's order states that the two were apprehended on October 13 after allegedly reaching Jantar Mantar, which is no longer a designated protest site, and raising slogans. The police alleged that they had jumped from inside the premises of the JDU office to reach the site and that they were brought under control with difficulty.

According to the police version recorded in the order, inputs had been received that CJP workers, under the leadership of Das and Ranka, might create a disturbance at Jantar Mantar. The police also alleged that the two had extensively used social media to urge people to assemble at the site.

The order further records that preventive action under Sections 126 and 170 of the BNSS had been initiated against the two and Abhijeet Dipke on October 11, following their apprehension at the Indira Gandhi International Airport on October 10.

The police alleged that the three had arrived at the airport to participate in a proposed protest at Jantar Mantar without obtaining permission from the Delhi Police. They were allegedly aggressive and hostile when asked to cooperate with the police.

According to the order, the three subsequently executed personal bonds and surety bonds of ₹50,000 each for maintaining peace and good behaviour. The Special Executive Magistrate had directed them to maintain peace in the area for one year.

However, the police alleged that immediately after their release, the CJP leaders again issued calls on social media and other platforms for a protest at Jantar Mantar and held press conferences urging people to assemble there.

The police further alleged that on October 13, Das and Ranka continued making videos and urging people to gather at the site despite repeated explanations about the legal restrictions.

The magistrate noted that the investigating officer had submitted videos allegedly made and posted by the two on social media in a pen drive along with the kalandra, the report submitted for initiating preventive proceedings. The order records the police's submission that the videos showed the two being adamant and hostile.

The magistrate also took note of the registration of FIR No. 128/26 at Parliament Street Police Station and FIR No. 289/26 at Connaught Place Police Station in connection with the alleged acts.

“From the material on record, it is imperative that the above-said respondents, after having executed a bond/bail bond for keeping the peace in pursuance of an order of a SEM South West under Section 136 BNSS, have again committed breach of the bond/bail bond,” the order states.

The magistrate added that the alleged breach was evident from their conduct, social media posts and the complainant's statement.

Finding sufficient grounds to proceed against the two, the magistrate directed that notice under Section 130 BNSS be issued to them. Observing that no sound surety had been produced at that stage, the magistrate remanded them to judicial custody for five days to maintain public peace and order.

The matter has been listed for further enquiry on October 19.