Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) leaders Ashutosh Ranka and Saurav Das, released on Wednesday after seven days in judicial custody, vowed before a Special Executive Magistrate (SEM) court in New Delhi that they will not call for any demonstration at Jantar Mantar as it has been denotified as a protest site.
The next hearing is on Friday. As recorded in the court’s order, Das and Ranka stated in identical words, “I undertake and promise not to commit any breach of peace. Further it is also expressed that I have full faith in the judiciary and all its instruments, including the learned SEM Court. The Delhi Police had sought three more days of judicial custody for the two. The CJP, founded by Abhijeet Dipke, alleged that proceedings were being deliberately delayed to keep the two in custody, and moved the Delhi High Court against the extension.
The magistrate ordered their release after directing Das and Ranka to furnish personal bonds and surety bonds of Rs 50,000 each and said the inquiry against them would continue. Das and Ranka had been in judicial custody since October 14. On October 13, they scaled the locked gates of Jantar Mantar and waved the national flag in protest against its denotification as a designated protest site. The prosecution said the act breached a peace bond the two had signed after being detained on October 10, the day they had originally called for a protest over alleged electoral fraud.
“Truth has triumphed,” Das said as the two were led away from court.
