CJP alleges delay in release of Saurav Das, Ashutosh Ranka; police cite faulty bonds

The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) has accused Delhi authorities of deliberately delaying the release of its leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka, who have been in judicial custody since October 14 following a protest at Jantar Mantar. Delhi Police has rejected the allegation, maintaining that the release process has been held up by faulty surety bonds and that officials are following the prescribed procedure.

The dispute intensified on Sunday after the special executive magistrate (SEM) handling the case reportedly received threatening messages concerning the release of the two men. Police said a case had been registered on the magistrate’s complaint under provisions relating to criminal intimidation and threats.

As of Sunday, the SEM at Mandir Marg had not passed an order on the duo’s release, leaving them in Tihar jail. Subsequent reports on Monday said the magistrate had recused himself from the proceedings after citing a threat to his life, adding another complication to the case.

CJP alleges repeated objections to surety bonds

The party said it had submitted multiple surety bonds since October 15 but alleged that police officials continued to raise fresh objections, preventing Das and Ranka from being released.

“The state is deliberately prolonging Ashu and Saurav’s illegal arrest by using every dirty trick in the book to delay court proceedings and prevent their release. They have no legal grounds to keep them behind bars, so they are resorting to delaying tactics to keep them there,” CJP leader Abhijit Dipke wrote on X.

Aafreen Nawaz, the party’s national secretary, told Hindustan Times that CJP members had been visiting Mandir Marg police station for four days to complete the release formalities. She alleged that officials rejected successive surety submissions on different grounds, including objections to fixed deposits and the Delhi addresses of those standing surety for the two leaders.

“One day, DCP Sachin Sharma delayed and didn’t sign the bond. They then said our fixed deposits are not proper. But they already have bank stamps,” Nawaz said. She also alleged that party volunteers had been picked up and threatened.

Nawaz said party representatives were informed on Sunday that the SEM had received threats over releasing Das and Ranka and that a new magistrate would have to take up the matter. The party sought assistance from senior Supreme Court lawyers but was unable to secure the duo’s release.

Magistrate’s hearing delayed amid threat complaint

Ratna Singh, the party’s head of legal affairs, alleged that the hearing scheduled for noon on Sunday was delayed until 5 pm. According to Singh, verification had been completed and the requirements for release had been met before the SEM cited a threatening message and deferred proceedings.

Delhi Police said the magistrate reported receiving threatening messages on Sunday evening. An officer said a case had been registered in New Delhi district on the magistrate’s complaint and an inquiry had begun.

The police denied deliberately obstructing the release process, arguing that the surety documents submitted by the party were faulty and could not be accepted.

“They have been filing faulty surety bonds and we can’t accept them. We have to follow procedure,” a senior police officer said.

The officer added that the SEM had expressed concern about continuing to perform his duties under threat, prompting the police to register a case and investigate the matter.

Later reports on Monday said the magistrate had recused himself, citing a threat to his life. The development came as the two leaders approached the end of their five-day judicial custody, with reports indicating that Delhi Police was considering seeking a further extension on the grounds that their release could affect public order.

Why Das and Ranka were sent to judicial custody

Das and Ranka were detained on October 13 after entering Jantar Mantar with other CJP members to unfurl the national flag. The site had recently been denotified as a designated protest venue. They were subsequently arrested and sent to judicial custody.

In an order dated October 14, the SEM said the two men had breached a surety bond they signed on October 11, undertaking to maintain peace. The order remanded them to judicial custody for five days, noting that “no sound surety” had been produced at that stage. The matter was listed for further inquiry on October 19.

The arrests followed the party’s protest at Jantar Mantar, where its members sought to unfurl the national flag after the site was no longer designated for demonstrations. The case has since developed into a dispute over the acceptance of surety documents, the timing of the release proceedings and the reported threats against the magistrate.

While CJP maintains that repeated objections have unlawfully prolonged the detention of its leaders, Delhi Police says it is acting in accordance with procedure. The allegations of deliberate delay and the reported threats remain separate issues under scrutiny.