Delhi court orders release of CJP leaders Ashutosh Ranka, Saurav Das

A special executive magistrate court in Delhi on Wednesday ordered the release of Cockroach Janta Party leaders Ashutosh Ranka and Saurav Das, Bar and Bench reported.

The two, along with another campaign leader, Ajinkya Shinde, were detained on October 13 after they trespassed on Jantar Mantar and waved the national flag. They had “sneaked into” the Jantar Mantar to oppose the authorities’ decision to denotify the area as a designated protest site.

Their judicial custody came against the backdrop of protests in the national capital by the Cockroach Janta Party, the Opposition parties and student groups to demand the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over concerns about the functioning of the Election Commission and its handling of the special intensive revision of electoral rolls.

On October 14, Ranka and Das were sent to judicial custody for five days. Shinde was released on a personal bond.

After their custody ended on Monday, a Delhi court extended Ranka and Das’ judicial custody by two days. That period ended on Wednesday, after which the special executive magistrate ordered their release after accepting their sureties.

The Delhi Police had sought an extension of judicial custody by three more days, Bar and Bench reported.

The Cockroach Janta Party had earlier alleged that there was a “deliberate delay” in the release of Ranka and Das, accusing the authorities of...

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