According to reports, the petitioners have sought an urgent hearing in the matter. The challenge comes after Special Executive Magistrate Ritu Raj extended their custody following allegations that they violated previously executed peace bonds.
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New Update
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Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka on Monday approached the Delhi High Court, challenging a Special Executive Magistrate’s order extending their judicial custody by two days in connection with an alleged breach of peace bonds.
According to reports, the petitioners have sought an urgent hearing in the matter. The challenge comes after Special Executive Magistrate Ritu Raj extended their custody following allegations that they violated previously executed peace bonds by attempting to unfurl the national flag at Jantar Mantar in defiance of prohibitory orders.
Das and Ranka were initially remanded to five days of judicial custody by Executive Magistrate Mahesh Kumar Meena on October 14. The matter was subsequently listed for further proceedings on October 19.
The two leaders were first apprehended at an airport on October 10 ahead of protests announced in Delhi against the Chief Election Commissioner. They were subjected to preventive proceedings under Sections 126 and 170 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) and released the same day after being directed to furnish peace bonds of ₹50,000 each.
However, they were apprehended again on October 14 following their alleged attempt to stage a Tiranga protest at Jantar Mantar.
While extending their custody, Special Executive Magistrate Ritu Raj observed that the respondents had deliberately violated their peace bonds and immediately engaged in conduct that allegedly threatened public peace.
The magistrate also expressed concern over the investigating officer’s claims that the two leaders had repeatedly called for protests at areas where such demonstrations were not permitted. The court observed that their assurances against repeating the alleged conduct did not inspire confidence in light of the material submitted by the police.
The order further directed the two leaders to furnish fresh sureties after finding the previously submitted sureties unsuitable. The court cited discrepancies between photographs on the bond documents and the sureties’ Aadhaar cards, along with their inability to provide satisfactory answers during the verification process.
The matter is now before the Delhi High Court, where the two leaders are challenging the extension of their judicial custody.