NEW DELHI: A special executive magistrate (SEM) on Monday extended the judicial custody of Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) activists Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka by two days, rejecting fresh sureties furnished by their counsel. The hearing was held before the new magistrate, SEM Ritu Raj, after the previous magistrate recused citing a threatening message. An FIR was registered to investigate that matter.In the order, the SEM observed that the duo had “deliberately” breached the bonds furnished on Oct 11 and committed a breach of peace soon after. Their assurance that they would not repeat the offence did “not inspire confidence”, the order said, citing material submitted by the investigating officer. It also flagged their “habitualness in calling protests at de-notified areas” and said they had shown “no respect for law”. The magistrate rejected the two fresh sureties after personally questioning them.Duo made no fresh calls for protests after Oct 10: LawyerThe magistrate rejected the two fresh sureties after personally questioning them. The order noted an “apparent mismatch between one surety’s photograph on the bond and his Aadhaar card,” while, over second surety, the SEM noted, he could not provide basic details, including parentage and address, of Das, with the magistrate concluding that “neither surety had sufficient control” over the activists to ensure their presence before the authorities.Delhi Police sought a further five to seven days of judicial custody, citing an “imminent threat to public order” following an anonymous WhatsApp message allegedly sent to the previous magistrate. The IO also accused the duo of mobilising people to assemble at “de-notified” protest sites through social media and breaching their Oct 11 undertaking.Advocate Abhik Chimni, representing the duo, contested the grounds for continued detention, arguing that the police application did not establish any specific apprehension that the activists would repeat the alleged offence. He maintained that the duo had made no fresh calls for protests after Oct 10 and had gone to Jantar Mantar individually. The defence also assured the magistrate that they would not repeat the alleged conduct and sought their release.“The order will be challenged,” Chimni said.
The duo was earlier apprehended at the IGI Airport on Oct 10, along with Abhijeet Dipke, ahead of the planned protests against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and alleged irregularities in the SIR process. They were subjected to preventive proceedings under Sections 126 and 170 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS). They were released the same day after furnishing peace bonds of Rs 50,000 each, but were detained again on Oct 13 over their alleged attempt to stage a Tiranga protest at Jantar Mantar.Dipke, meanwhile, was detained Friday and subsequently arrested and placed under preventive arrest the next morning. He was granted bail on the condition that he will not “breach peace” for a year. After Ranka’s and Das’ custody was extended, Dipke posted on X, “Ashu and Saurav’s first crime was waving the Tiranga at Jan-tar Mantar. Their second crime? Refusing to back down. Even after five days in jail, they walked into court with smiles on their faces, their spirits unbroken.”