Two prominent leaders of CJP, Ashutosh Ranka and Saurav Das, secured their release from Tihar Jail on Wednesday after spending seven days in judicial custody. The relief came following their appearance before a Special Executive Magistrate (SEM) court in New Delhi, where both activists furnished an undertaking pledging not to convene any agitations at Jantar Mantar. The magistrate granted their release upon the execution of personal bonds and surety bonds of Rs 50,000 each, while clarifying that official inquiries into their actions remain active, with the upcoming hearing scheduled for Friday.
Commitments Made Before the Magistrate
As part of the conditions required for securing their liberty, the two CJP figures submitted a formal legal declaration affirming their complete faith in the judicial framework, including the authority of the SEM court itself. They placed on record that they would refrain from any conduct that might disturb public order or cause a breach of communal peace.
Central to their submission was an explicit assurance regarding the designated protest zones of the national capital. Both individuals stated that they would not organize, sponsor, or call for any gathering at Jantar Mantar until the location is legally restored and re-notified as an authorized protest venue. Furthermore, they emphasized that any democratic resistance they choose to organize in the future will remain strictly anchored within the parameters established by the Indian Constitution.
Events That Prompted the Detention
The judicial detention of Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka commenced on October 14, stemming from an incident that unfolded a day earlier on October 13. On that day, both leaders scaled the locked perimeter gates of Jantar Mantar and hoisted the Indian national flag to express dissent against the administration's decision to delist the historical landmark as an official venue for civic protests.
Prosecutors contended that this action amounted to an explicit breach of a peace bond the duo had previously entered into. Just days earlier, on October 10, both leaders had been held by authorities following an agitation organized against alleged electoral manipulation, at which point they had signed commitments promising to uphold law and order. The prosecution maintained that jumping over the barricades violated the legal assurances made during that earlier detention.
Public Reaction From Abhijeet Dipke
Following their release from prison gates, CJP affiliate Abhijeet Dipke took to public channels to welcome back the two activists. He posted on X offering praise for both colleagues, calling them superior and significantly larger leaders than himself. While expressing readiness to follow their lead, he concluded on a lighter personal note, cautioning that neither of them should roam unaccompanied in gardens going forward.
