New Delhi: Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) leaders Ashutosh Ranka and Saurav Das have been remanded to judicial custody for two more days, according to media reports. They are scheduled to be produced before a magistrate on Wednesday, October 21.
The leaders were produced before a newly appointed Special Executive Magistrate at Delhi’s Mandir Marg police station on Monday. The order followed a request by police to extend their custody, despite their legal team seeking their release after submitting bail sureties.
Das and Ranka were detained on October 13 following a protest at Jantar Mantar. They allegedly climbed over a locked gate to enter the site, which had reportedly been removed from the list of designated protest venues.
According to reports, the leaders joined other party workers in displaying the national flag and raising slogans against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
The CJP has been protesting against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, alleging that the exercise could affect voters’ rights. The party has also opposed the removal of Jantar Mantar’s status as a designated protest site.
The party has alleged that delays in bail proceedings are preventing the leaders’ release. These claims have not been independently verified.
The case also saw a development on Sunday, when the magistrate reportedly complained of threats from unidentified people. Police registered a non-cognisable report following the complaint.
The matter is expected to be heard again on October 21.
