CJP Leaders Saurav Das, Ashutosh Ranka Move Delhi High Court Against Judicial Custody
Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka have approached the Delhi High Court challenging an order that extended their judicial custody by two days. The leaders have sought urgent judicial intervention, arguing that their continued detention violates their fundamental right to personal liberty under Article 21 of the Constitution.
The petition challenges an October 19 order passed by a Special Executive Magistrate at Mandir Marg Police Station, which extended their custody until October 21. The move came after the magistrate rejected the sureties submitted on their behalf.
Das and Ranka were detained by Delhi Police following a protest-related incident at Jantar Mantar on October 13. The police alleged that the CJP leaders and other members entered the restricted area despite the venue no longer being a designated site for demonstrations.
The two leaders were initially sent to judicial custody for five days on October 14. When their initial custody period ended, the Special Executive Magistrate extended their detention by another two days, prompting the fresh legal challenge.
In their petition, Das and Ranka have questioned the rejection of the sureties they submitted for their release. They contend that they repeatedly provided the required documents but were not given a proper opportunity to address the objections raised by the magistrate.
The petition also challenges the legal basis for their continued detention, arguing that the magistrate relied on police submissions without independently establishing the necessity of keeping them in custody. The leaders have maintained that the order fails to adequately justify the restrictions imposed on their personal liberty.
Another key argument concerns the verification of sureties. The petition refers to an earlier Delhi High Court judgment to support the contention that an individual may be released on a personal bond while the verification of sureties is pending, subject to the applicable legal requirements.
The magistrate had reportedly raised objections to the documents and identification details provided by the sureties. The order also expressed concerns about the leaders’ conduct and the possibility of further breaches of peace, citing their involvement in calls for protests at a restricted location.
The CJP legal team has sought an urgent hearing, including a night hearing, to secure relief for the two leaders. However, the Delhi High Court is observing its Dussehra vacation, and reports on October 20 indicated that an urgent hearing was being sought while the legal team awaited a response regarding the listing of the matter.
The controversy comes amid a wider dispute over restrictions on protests at Jantar Mantar and the authorities’ handling of demonstrations in the national capital. The party has argued that the detention raises questions about the balance between maintaining public order and protecting constitutional freedoms.
The immediate outcome now depends on the Delhi High Court’s response to the petition and whether it grants an urgent hearing or other relief. As of the latest reports on October 21, the leaders’ challenge to the custody extension remained a developing legal matter.
