New Delhi: A day after their release from judicial custody, Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka have been summoned by the Delhi Police Crime Branch for questioning. The police have also asked Ajinkya Shinde, the party’s national organisation in-charge, to appear before investigators on Thursday.
The three have been directed to visit the Crime Branch office in Rajouri Garden. Officials issued the summons at around 8:30 pm on Wednesday, just hours after Das and Ranka were released by a special executive magistrate.
The Crime Branch is investigating allegations that the CJP leaders violated a government order under Section 188 and entered another person’s property while heading towards Jantar Mantar. The protest site has been de-notified for demonstrations, according to the report.
CJP Leaders Released After Giving Written Undertaking
Das and Ranka were released after submitting written undertakings that they would maintain peace and abide by the law. They were also directed to furnish personal and surety bonds of Rs 50,000 each, which will remain in place until the enquiry concludes.
While ordering their release, the special executive magistrate observed that further judicial custody was not necessary at that stage, particularly after the leaders had given written assurances.
The two leaders were detained earlier this month while attempting to enter Jantar Mantar. They were initially sent to five days of judicial custody until October 19. Their custody was later extended until October 21.
The developments followed a hearing in the Delhi High Court on Wednesday, where the leaders had challenged the judicial custody order.
Delhi High Court Questions CJP Leaders’ Plea
During the hearing, the Delhi High Court questioned the leaders’ decision to approach it under Article 226 of the Constitution instead of seeking a remedy through a revision petition before the appropriate court.
The court also remarked that the two leaders were not Gen Zs while discussing their actions and the legal route they had chosen.
“You are a person who has actually broken a bond,” the court observed, adding that their remedy lay in revision. It also questioned the need to approach the High Court when the order could be challenged through the revisional process.
Following the court’s observations, Das and Ranka withdrew their plea. They were subsequently granted relief by the special executive magistrate.
Abhijeet Dipke Welcomes Their Release
The CJP welcomed the release of its leaders, with party founder Abhijeet Dipke expressing his support for Das and Ranka in a post on X.
Describing them as “much, much bigger leaders” than himself, Dipke said he was happy to follow their instructions. He also added a remark urging them not to walk alone in the garden without him.
The latest summons mean that the two leaders will now have to appear before the Crime Branch as the investigation continues. The police are examining the allegations linked to their attempted visit to Jantar Mantar, while the leaders’ release from custody remains subject to the conditions imposed by the magistrate.