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. After the court hearing, they spoke to reporters asserting that their protests against the Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar will continue. 

The duo vowed to continue their movement against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, with Das asserting that CEC Kumar would have to resign.

Movement Continues, Vow CJP Leaders

"The movement continues. We are custodians of this platform which has been given to us by the people of this country. We are just trying to do our best. The movement continues even when we are in jail," Ranka said.

"We have learnt a lot of things about ourselves and the way the regime is working, and we will change and evolve in the necessary manner," he said, adding that the next steps would be announced once finalised.

We Will Decide Collectively: Das On Future Plan

Replying to a question related to CJP's next move, Das said everyone will decide collectively. "It is not a decision to be taken by CJP alone. Many people are associated with this movement, and everyone will discuss and decide on the next course of action. Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation is inevitable", he added.

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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.

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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)