CJP Activists Exit Crime Branch Office Amid Jantar Mantar Probe
Saurabh Das and Ashutosh Ranka of the Cockroach Janata Party visit the Crime Branch regarding the Jantar Mantar trespassing probe.
Saurabh Das and Ashutosh Ranka, activists associated with the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP), left the Delhi Police Crime Branch office in Rajouri Garden on Thursday. The duo had visited the facility after being summoned by the agency to assist in the ongoing Jantar Mantar trespassing case.
The Sequence of Summons
This visit follows a previous instance on October 22, when Das, Ranka, and another associate, Ajinkya Shinde, failed to appear for questioning at 12 noon despite being summoned by the Crime Branch.
Addressing the absence on the earlier date, Ashutosh Ranka clarified that they were unable to attend and had duly informed the authorities. He mentioned that they are currently awaiting further communication regarding future dates and timings for their cooperation with the investigation.
"We are waiting to hear from them. We have not received a specific date yet. We could not make it on the previous date, and we had informed them about that," Ranka stated.
Roots of the Investigation
The legal trouble for the CJP activists stems from a protest held on October 13 at Jantar Mantar. The police allege that the activists entered the area through private premises, violating peace conditions. This occurred after Jantar Mantar had been denotified as a designated site for protests.
Court Orders and Release
Das and Ranka had previously been detained in connection with the incident. However, on October 21, the Special Executive Magistrate (SEM) court ordered their release from judicial custody.
The release was granted after the activists accepted personal and surety bonds and provided written undertakings to the court. SEM Ritu Raj mandated the following conditions:
- The leaders must furnish personal and surety bonds of Rs 50,000 each until the enquiry concludes.
- They are required to appear on every scheduled hearing date.
- They must strictly comply with all conditions specified in their bonds and undertakings.
Commitment to Law and Order
In their formal written undertakings, Saurabh Das and Ashutosh Ranka promised the court that they would not disturb public tranquillity or breach the peace. Furthermore, they pledged not to organize any protests at Jantar Mantar until the site is legally denotified, asserting that any future demonstrations would be conducted strictly within the constitutional framework.