The Delhi Police has officially transferred the ongoing trespassing case against Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) leaders Ashutosh Ranka and Saurav Das to the crime branch. This development, reported by news agency ANI, occurred on Monday, mere hours after a local court granted an extension of their judicial custody for an additional two days.
The two leaders, Ranka and Das, were initially taken into preventive custody after they allegedly entered Jantar Mantar, which has been declared a restricted area for protests. Authorities claim the pair obstructed police personnel while leading other party workers in a demonstration that included waving the national flag and raising slogans against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Since their initial detention on October 13, the case has moved through several procedural hurdles, including a rejected bail attempt due to document discrepancies.
Legal representatives for the CJP leaders expressed strong opposition to the continued detention. According to the defense counsel, the five-day custody period had concluded, and despite submitting fresh sureties to the court, the state filed a new application. The defense stated that the prosecution requested an additional five to seven days of judicial custody, citing concerns over public order and tranquillity. The lawyer argued that the move was particularly concerning given that no formal FIR has been filed against the leaders in connection with the current proceedings.
The lawyer representing the accused described the situation as deeply distressing, noting the unusual nature of maintaining preventive custody without a pending investigation or registered FIR. He added that the legal team remains committed to pursuing the matter, though they are currently grappling with the court's refusal to accept the bail sureties provided. The leaders are scheduled to be produced before the court again on Wednesday to address the status of their custody.
The case has sparked broader political criticism, with CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke publicly questioning the current administration's handling of the protests. Dipke alleged that the judicial proceedings were being deliberately delayed to keep the party’s convenors incarcerated. He further criticised the use of barricades and police intervention, questioning the strength of the government in dealing with dissenting voices and student demonstrators on the streets of the capital.
Adding to the complexity of the legal situation, the special executive magistrate overseeing the bail hearings reported receiving threats from unidentified individuals on Sunday. This incident prompted the police to register a non-cognisable report to address the security concerns surrounding the proceedings. The escalating situation has drawn significant attention, as the intersection of political protest, security restrictions at designated sites, and the subsequent transfer to the crime branch continues to unfold in the national capital.
As the legal battle continues, the CJP maintains that its leaders were engaged in a peaceful display of patriotism at Jantar Mantar. With the transfer of the case to the crime branch, the investigation is expected to deepen, leaving the future status of Ranka and Das contingent upon the upcoming court hearings scheduled for later this week.
Comments