Magistrate Says Threats Were Made to Secure Release of CJP’s Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka; FIR Registered

Magistrate Alleges Threats Over CJP Leaders’ Release; FIR Filed as Bail Proceedings Face Delay Claims

A Special Executive Magistrate (SEM) hearing the case involving Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) leaders Ashutosh Ranka and Saurav Das has reportedly received threats from unidentified individuals demanding their release, a senior police officer said on Sunday. An FIR has been registered in New Delhi district on the basis of the magistrate’s complaint under sections related to criminal intimidation.

Ranka and Das have remained in judicial custody for the fifth consecutive day after being detained over allegations of breaching public peace. Meanwhile, CJP spokesperson Ratna Singh accused the police of deliberately delaying the duo’s bail proceedings.

CJP Alleges Deliberate Delay in Bail Hearing

Singh told reporters that the hearing, scheduled for noon on Sunday, was repeatedly postponed and eventually took place at around 5 pm. According to her, the magistrate then informed the courtroom that he had been receiving threats.

Questioning the relevance of the alleged threats to the bail proceedings, Singh claimed the authorities were holding up the approval of sureties to prolong the detention of Ranka and Das.

She also pointed out that the Public Prosecutor appeared in the matter for the first time on Sunday since the two leaders were arrested. However, she alleged that the hearing focused largely on the threatening messages rather than the issues concerning their custody and bail.

Singh said the party would consult its lawyers before deciding on its next course of action.

Court Order Cites Alleged Breach of Peace

According to the Special Executive Magistrate court’s order dated October 14, Ranka and Das were sent to five days of judicial custody. The order noted that no surety had initially been furnished by their legal team.

The magistrate’s order cited the alleged conduct of the two leaders, stating that they had previously violated lawful directions issued by authorities and that their subsequent actions indicated a possibility of further disturbances to public peace and tranquillity.

It also referred to an alleged breach of a bond executed under Section 136 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), citing their conduct, social media posts and the complainant’s statement.

CJP Members Allegedly Entered Jantar Mantar Through Private Premises

The case stems from an incident on October 13, when a group of 14 people, including Ranka, Das and CJP national organisation in-charge Ajinkya Shinde, allegedly entered Jantar Mantar through a narrow lane behind the Janata Dal (United) office.

According to police, the group climbed over a locked iron gate and entered the area, which had been denotified as a designated protest site two days earlier. The members reportedly unfurled the national flag and raised slogans before being detained.

In a statement, Delhi Police alleged that the group had trespassed through private premises to reach Jantar Mantar despite the site’s changed status.

Police also claimed that some CJP members had conducted a reconnaissance of the area on the night of October 12 to identify a route into the site, which was heavily barricaded and guarded following its denotification.

A police officer further alleged that when personnel attempted to stop the group, members jostled with them and obstructed them from carrying out their duties.

Two Cases Registered Against the Group

Police registered two separate cases in connection with the incident.

The first was lodged at Connaught Place police station under provisions relating to disobedience of an order issued by a public servant, house trespass and criminal conspiracy.

The second case was registered at Parliament Street police station.

According to the police, Ranka, Das and Shinde were arrested under preventive provisions of law in view of their alleged repeated attempts to disturb public peace and violate legal restrictions. Police also cited their alleged use of social media to encourage others to participate in similar activities.

The allegations against the CJP leaders and the party’s claims of deliberate delays in the bail process remain contested. The FIR concerning the alleged threats to the magistrate has added another development to the ongoing proceedings.