CJP Leaders Saurav Das, Ashutosh Ranka Appear Before SEM Court, Say ‘Will Present Our Side’

‘We Will Present Our Side’: CJP Leaders Saurav Das, Ashutosh Ranka Appear Before SEM Court; Know the Charges

Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) leaders Ashutosh Ranka and Saurav Das appeared before the Special Executive Magistrate (SEM) court at Delhi’s Mandir Marg Police Station on Friday. Before entering the police station, Das spoke to reporters, saying that they would put forward their version of events.

“We will present our side. Let’s see what happens,” Das told reporters. The appearance came a day after the two leaders reportedly skipped summons issued as part of the ongoing proceedings.

Court Had Ordered Release of Das and Ranka
On October 21, the SEM court ordered the release of Das and Ranka after they submitted written undertakings that they would maintain peace and would not call for protests at Jantar Mantar while the site remained denotified.

The two leaders were directed to furnish personal bonds and surety bonds of Rs 50,000 each, valid until the conclusion of the inquiry. After the required bonds were submitted, ACP Ritu Raj, acting as the Special Executive Magistrate, ordered their release from Tihar Jail.

The decision followed a police request for a three-day extension of their judicial custody. Police officials argued that concerns over a possible breach of peace and disruption of law and order remained, citing the leaders’ previous conduct and statements to the media.

According to the court order, the police also alleged inconsistencies between statements made by the two leaders before the court and their comments to the media regarding their willingness to refrain from similar activities. Their written response submitted during Wednesday’s proceedings was also cited in support of the police’s position.

Following their release, the CJP welcomed the court’s decision. Party founder Abhijeet Dipke described Das and Ranka as “much, much bigger leaders” than himself, while the party’s legal head, Ratna Singh, said the relief should have been granted earlier.

What Are the Charges Against Das and Ranka?
According to the police, Das and Ranka were detained over alleged violations of peace bonds and their entry into Jantar Mantar, which had been declared a denotified protest site. The action was linked to a CJP protest held at the location.

The two leaders were initially remanded to five days of judicial custody on October 14. Their custody was subsequently extended by two days on October 19 and was scheduled to end on Wednesday.

The proceedings were initiated by the Parliament Street Police under Sections 126 and 170 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS). These provisions were invoked as preventive measures amid police apprehensions of a potential breach of peace and disturbance of public tranquillity during the protests.

The case centres on the police allegations that the leaders breached the conditions imposed on them and entered a restricted protest area. The court proceedings will determine the further course of action in the matter.