The legal troubles for Cockroach Janata Party leaders Sourav Das and Ashutosh Ranka continue to mount as Delhi Police intensifies its probe. The Crime Branch has issued summons to both Ashutosh Ranka and Sourav Das, directing them to join the investigation on Thursday. The CJP members were asked to appear at the Delhi Police Crime Branch office located in Rajouri Garden during the afternoon hours in connection with the ongoing Jantar Mantar demonstration case.
Previous Summons and October Incident
Delhi Police had previously sent summons to Das and Ranka back in October as well. However, they failed to appear at that time and subsequently requested additional time to join the questioning before the Crime Branch. The cases registered against the CJP leaders in connection with the protest were officially transferred to the Crime Branch in October. These proceedings stem from the events of October 13, when Sourav Das, Ashutosh Ranka, and Ajinkya Shinde, along with 11 other individuals, entered the Jantar Mantar premises, a location that is no longer recognized as a designated site for protests.
Custody and Voter List Protests
Following the incident, all of them were taken into custody by Delhi Police. While Shinde managed to secure bail, Sourav Das and Ashutosh Ranka spent a full week in judicial custody. The CJP members were staging demonstrations to protest against alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision of the electoral rolls and had raised slogans against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
Release and Personal Bonds
After completing a week in judicial custody, Sourav Das and Ashutosh Ranka were released from Tihar Jail on October 21. They had submitted a written undertaking before the Special Executive Magistrate, assuring that they would maintain peace and refrain from calling for protests at Jantar Mantar until the venue is officially re-authorized for demonstrations in accordance with the law.
Magistrate Order and Legal Undertaking
SEM Ritu Raj ordered the release of both activists after they furnished personal bonds and surety bonds of Rs 50,000 each, pending the completion of the investigation into their entry into Jantar Mantar. In their written undertaking, both activists promised not to breach the peace and expressed complete faith in the judiciary and all its units, including the SEM Court. The SEM Court noted that to effectively prevent any breach of peace or public order, immediate necessary measures under Section 135(3) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita can be successfully enforced through bonds accompanied by written undertakings.
