A day after walking free, CJP leaders face fresh police summons
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Less than 24 hours after coming out of Tihar Jail, Cockroach Janta Party co-convenors Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka have been asked by the Delhi Police Crime Branch to appear for questioning on Thursday. The two leaders have been directed to reach the agency’s Rajouri Garden office at 12 noon in connection with the cases arising from their attempt to enter Jantar Mantar on October 13.
Another party member, Ajinkya Shinde, has also been called to record his statement, according to reports.
Das and Ranka were detained after they allegedly scaled a locked gate to reach Jantar Mantar, an area the Delhi Police had earlier removed from the list of approved protest venues. Officers have claimed that the group breached barricades and used a private establishment to gain access before being stopped. Footage circulated by the CJP showed its members waving the national flag at the site.
The police have registered two separate cases over the incident. While the first case, lodged at Connaught Place police station, alleges disobedience of a public servant’s order, trespass and criminal conspiracy, the second, filed at Parliament Street police station, accuses the group of obstructing and assaulting officers. Both matters have since been handed over to the Crime Branch.
The summons came soon after the two leaders secured release from judicial custody. A Special Executive Magistrate turned down the police’s request to keep them in custody for three more days and ordered their release on personal bonds and sureties of Rs 50,000 each.
As a condition of release, Das and Ranka gave written undertakings to maintain peace. They also agreed not to organise protests at Jantar Mantar while the site remains denotified and pledged to hold any future demonstrations within constitutional limits. Following their release, the leaders withdrew their petition in the Delhi High Court challenging the earlier extension of their custody.
The police had initiated action against them after alleging that they violated peace bonds furnished following their detention at the Indira Gandhi International Airport on October 10, ahead of a planned demonstration.
The CJP leaders have been demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, accusing the poll body of irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls and the removal of voters’ names. The Election Commission has rejected the allegations.