HighLights
  1. CJP leaders appeared before Delhi Special Executive Magistrate court.
  2. Saurav Das, Ashutosh Ranka previously skipped probe summons.
  3. Released earlier on conditions not to breach peace.

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. Ahead of entering the police station, he spoke to reporters, saying they would present their side.

"We will present our side. Let's see what happens," Das said. Das and Ranka appeared before police a day after skipping probe summons.

ALSO READ: Ashutosh Ranka, Saurav Das Seek More Time To Appear After Delhi Crime Branch Issued Summons

Court Grants Relief To Das And Ranka

Earlier on October 21, a special executive magistrate court ordered the release of Das and Ranka after they gave written undertakings that they won't breach peace or call for protests at Jantar Mantar as long as the site remains denotified.

The two were directed to furnish personal bonds and surety bonds of Rs 50,000 each until the conclusion of the inquiry. They furnished the bonds and ACP Ritu Raj, acting as the special executive magistrate (SEM), ordered their release from Tihar Jail.

The order came after the police sought a three-day extension of their judicial custody, arguing that apprehensions of a breach of peace and disturbance of law and order persisted in view of their previous conduct and statements made in the media.

ALSO READ: What Is An SEM Court? Why CJP Leaders Saurav Das, Ashutosh Ranka Were Produced Before It Instead Of Regular Court

The police also argued that Das and Ranka had given contradictory statements before the court and in the media regarding their willingness to refrain from similar activities.

Their written reply submitted during Wednesday's proceedings was also cited as being contrary to their earlier submissions, according to the order.

The CJP welcomed the release of Das and Ranka, with founder Abhijeet Dipke calling them "much, much bigger leaders" than himself and legal head Ratna Singh saying the decision should have come earlier.

What Are Key Charges Against Das And Ranka?

According to police the duo violated peace bonds and trespassed into a restricted denotified protest site (Jantar Mantar). Das and Ranka were detained in connection with the CJP's protest, for entering the denotified protest site at Jantar Mantar and violating peace bonds. They were initially remanded to five days of judicial custody on October 14. Later, their custody was extended by two days on October 19 and was due to expire on Wednesday.

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

(With Agencies Inputs)


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