New Delhi: The Delhi Police on Monday handed over the trespassing case against Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka to its Crime Branch. The move came hours after a court extended their judicial custody by two days, PTI reported quoting police sources.
The case transferred to the Crime Branch’s Inter State Cell was registered at Connaught Place police station. It invokes Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita sections dealing with disobedience of an order issued by a public servant, house trespass and criminal conspiracy. A second FIR, registered at Parliament Street police station, remains with the local police.
Custody Extended
Das and Ranka, the CJP’s co-convenors, were produced before newly appointed Special Executive Magistrate Ritu Raj at Mandir Marg police station after their initial five-day judicial custody ended on Monday. The magistrate extended their custody until October 21, rejecting the sureties offered for their release.
According to the court order, the photograph of one surety did not match the image on the person’s Aadhaar card, while the documents submitted by another surety lacked basic details, including parentage. The magistrate also observed that the two leaders had “no respect for law” and had repeatedly called for protests at a denotified site.
Delhi Police had sought five more days of custody, arguing that releasing the leaders could lead to fresh protest calls and disturb public order, particularly in view of security considerations during the festive season. The defence contended that the CJP had issued no fresh call for protest and that there was no basis to keep the two in custody.
What Led To Detention
On October 13, a group of 14 people, including Das, Ranka and CJP national organisation in-charge Ajinkya Shinde, allegedly entered the Jantar Mantar area through a narrow lane behind the JD(U) office and climbed over a locked iron gate. Police said the group unfurled the national flag and raised slogans before being detained.
Jantar Mantar had been denotified as a designated protest site a day earlier. Police alleged that the protesters entered the area through private premises and obstructed personnel from discharging their duties.
Shinde was later released on a personal bond and a surety of Rs 5,000. He was also asked to maintain peace and good behaviour for six months. Das and Ranka were sent to judicial custody on October 14.
CJP Alleges Delay
The party’s legal affairs head, Ratna Singh, alleged that the proceedings had been repeatedly delayed and that the authorities had failed to establish any threat to public peace.
“Our advocates spoke strictly on points of law, yet the authorities failed to present a single piece of evidence showing any threat to public peace,” Singh said.
She also said the CJP had not given any protest call after Das and Ranka were sent to judicial custody, and accused the authorities of using the proceedings to suppress democratic voices.
Advocate Abhik Chimni, appearing for Das and Ranka, said fresh sureties from Delhi residents had been produced before the court but were rejected over an alleged mismatch in photographs. “They have not given any protest calls. It’s very disturbing,” he told reporters.
Chimni said the legal team would challenge the custody order. He argued that the case involved preventive custody rather than an FIR-based prosecution against his clients, and alleged that they were being detained over fears that they would resume protesting.