SEM court orders release of CJP leaders Saurav Das, Ashutosh Ranka

A Special Executive Magistrate (SEM) court in Delhi on Wednesday ordered the release of Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka, who had been in judicial custody for seven days over an alleged breach of peace bonds and unauthorised entry into Jantar Mantar.

The order came after the Delhi Police sought a three-day extension of their judicial custody. The court instead ordered their release after their sureties were submitted during the proceedings, Hindustan Times reported.

Das and Ranka were initially remanded to five days of judicial custody on October 14. Their custody was extended by two days on October 19 and was due to end on Wednesday.

The two leaders were detained on October 13 after allegedly entering Jantar Mantar, which had been denotified as a designated protest site, by crossing a locked gate. They had raised slogans demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar during protests against alleged irregularities in electoral rolls.

Earlier on Wednesday, the Delhi High Court declined to intervene in their custody and allowed them to withdraw their petition challenging the extension of their judicial remand. The court asked them to await the outcome of proceedings before the SEM and approach the appellate court if necessary.

During the hearing, the High Court questioned their decision to enter the site without permission and observed that barricades were intended to prevent unauthorised entry and the possibility of further disruption.

The release comes amid continuing protests by CJP and associated groups over alleged electoral irregularities. The Election Commission has denied allegations of wrongdoing in the revision of electoral rolls.