Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka, released from judicial custody on Wednesday after seven days, gave written undertakings before a Special Executive Magistrate (SEM) court that they would not call for protests at Jantar Mantar as long as it remains a denotified protest site.
The two leaders also assured the court that they would maintain peace, respect the law and conduct any future demonstrations within the constitutional framework.
Special Executive Magistrate Ritu Raj ordered their release after directing them to furnish personal and surety bonds of Rs 50,000 each. The court, however, said the preventive inquiry against them would continue.
๐ช๐ฟ๐ถ๐๐๐ฒ๐ป ๐๐ป๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐ฎ๐ธ๐ถ๐ป๐ด๐ ๐ฏ๐ฒ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐ฐ๐ผ๐๐ฟ๐
In their identical written undertakings, Das and Ranka promised not to commit any breach of peace and expressed confidence in the judiciary, including the SEM court.
They specifically assured the magistrate that they would not issue calls for demonstrations at Jantar Mantar while the location remains legally denotified as a designated protest venue.
The leaders further stated that any protest organised by them would remain within constitutional limits.
The undertakings were taken on record by the magistrate, who concluded that continued detention was unnecessary in view of the assurances and the bonds furnished by the two leaders.
The court directed them to attend subsequent hearings, comply with the conditions of their bonds and refrain from activities that could disturb public tranquillity.
๐ฃ๐ผ๐น๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐๐ผ๐๐ด๐ต๐ ๐๐ต๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฒ-๐ฑ๐ฎ๐ ๐ฒ๐ ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป
The release order came after Delhi Police sought a further three-day extension of judicial custody, arguing that apprehensions of a breach of peace and disturbance of law and order persisted.
Police referred to the leaders' previous conduct and statements made in the media while opposing their release.
Counsel representing Das and Ranka offered an unconditional verbal apology over conduct raised during the proceedings and assured the magistrate that it would not be repeated.
After considering the submissions and written undertakings, the court held that the preventive proceedings could continue without keeping the two leaders in judicial custody.
The matter has been listed for further hearing on October 23, when the police are expected to submit a verification report concerning the sureties.
๐๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐ณ๐ผ๐น๐น๐ผ๐๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐๐ฎ๐ป๐๐ฎ๐ฟ ๐ ๐ฎ๐ป๐๐ฎ๐ฟ ๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ผ๐๐ฒ๐๐
Das and Ranka were taken into custody following an October 13 demonstration at Jantar Mantar, where they allegedly climbed the locked gates of the barricaded protest site and waved the national flag.
The demonstration was held against the denotification of Jantar Mantar as a designated protest venue, amid CJP's protests over alleged electoral irregularities and demands concerning Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
The prosecution alleged that their actions violated peace bonds furnished after an earlier detention on October 10.
The two were subsequently remanded to five days of judicial custody on October 14, which was extended by another two days on October 19.
Earlier on Wednesday, the Delhi High Court questioned their challenge to the extension of custody, referring to the alleged violation of an earlier undertaking. The leaders subsequently withdrew their petition.
Following their release, Das said, "Truth has triumphed."
The two leaders were released from Tihar Jail after completing the required formalities, bringing their seven-day detention to an end even as the preventive proceedings remain pending.