The two gave written undertakings to maintain peace and public order, follow the law during protests and avoid demonstrations at Jantar Mantar while the site is de-notified for agitation. New Delhi: Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) activists Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka walked out of Tihar Jail on Wednesday (October 21) after a special executive magistrate (SEM) court ordered their release on personal and surety bonds of Rs 50,000 each.
CJP’s Head of Legal Affairs, Ratna Singh, welcomed the court’s decision, saying the activists had finally been released after delays. “On the 19th, they were remanded to two days of custody, and today those two days have concluded. An application for further custody was filed, citing various reasons. We, of course, endeavoured to convince the court that these reasons were insufficient and that we did not concur with them.
Das and Ranka were arrested on October 13 over allegations that they entered the Jantar Mantar protest site without authorisation and obstructed police personnel from performing their duties. They were sent to five days of judicial custody on October 14, followed by a two-day extension on October 19.
Advocate Abhik Chimni, who represented the activists, said the court ordered their release after hearing arguments against extending their judicial custody. Having heard the arguments, the court requested our sureties and, based on them, issued a release order,” he told ANI.
The two also affirmed their faith in the judiciary and its institutions, including the SEM court.
The court said that the undertakings and peace bonds were sufficient in the present case and that there was no need to send the activists back into judicial custody. They said they would continue to protest within the limits set by the Constitution.
It directed them to appear before the SEM court whenever required during further proceedings and comply with the conditions of their bonds and voluntary undertakings.
