Cockroach Janta Party co-convenors Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka on Tuesday moved Delhi High Court challenging a special executive magistrate’s order extending their judicial custody by two days.
Das and Ranka sought a night hearing in the high court, CJP spokesperson and legal head Ratna Singh said. The high court is shut this week because of the Dussehra vacation.
A newly appointed special executive magistrate at Mandir Marg police station on Monday ordered their judicial remand for two more days after they were produced before him.
Das and Ranka were taken into custody on October 13 after they allegedly climbed over a locked gate to enter Jantar Mantar, which had earlier been denotified as a designated protest site, and were sent to five-day judicial custody.
“We have moved Delhi High Court and requested an urgent night hearing. Saurav and Ashutosh should not spend a single minute behind bars. Their liberty must not be curtailed because of political games. Justice must not wait,” Singh posted on X on Tuesday.
The CJP has alleged that the bail proceedings in the case have been deliberately delayed to prevent the release of its two co-convenors.
Along with other CJP workers, Das and Ranka displayed the national flag at Jantar Mantar and shouted slogans against chief election commissioner Gyanesh Kumar before being detained and placed under preventive arrest.
The petition on Tuesday flagged established Delhi High Court precedent that individuals must be released on personal bond while surety verification is pending.
In a statement, CJP spokesperson Singh condemned the allegedly arbitrary process that has kept Das and Ranka in Tihar Jail without legal justification. “There is absolutely no reason for Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka to be behind bars for seven consecutive days. The grounds provided by the SEM are completely bizarre, absurd, and mechanically adopted from police applications,” she stated.
Dipke message
CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke on Tuesday urged his supporters to spend the ongoing festive season with their family members, indicating a break from the movement over electoral reforms.
Dipke underlined the role of Ranka and Das in running the movement.
“I have seen how so many volunteers have been beaten on the streets, detained and subjected to considerable hardship while in detention. But things have been even more difficult for our families. It is our families who are suffering the most,” Dipke said.
“The fight we are putting up was our decision. But its consequences are affecting our families as well,” Dipke said.
“I request all my cockroaches to spend some time with your families for the next few days. The festivals are approaching, and after everything that has happened over the past few days, your families must be extremely worried about you.”