CJP's Saurav Das, Ashutosh Ranka sent to 5-day judicial custody for Jantar Mantar 'trespassing' | India News

A Special Executive Magistrate (SEM) on Wednesday sent Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka to five days of judicial custody, a day after the duo, along with several others from the outfit, breached the de-notified Jantar Mantar protest site.CJP leader Ajinkya Shinde, meanwhile, was released on a personal bond.The counsel representing them, advocate Abhisht Hela, said that the Delhi Police argued that both of them gave a call and asked people to reach at Jantar Mantar, thereby carrying out criminal trespass, and a previous bond signed by the accused before a Special Executive Magistrate at Delhi Cantt Police Station on Sunday to not carry out any breach of peace, had been violated by the accused. Track latest updates from anti-CEC protests here'Might commit crime'The counsel further said that police argued before the magistrate that “there was a presumption that the accused might carry out a crime” if they are out. They were produced before the SEM at Mandir Marg Police Station at around 8:30 am on Wednesday. CJP chief spokesperson Saurav Das and its national spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka were detained by the Delhi Police on Tuesday morning after entering Jantar Mantar by jumping the locked gates, a day after the site lost its designated protest venue status. Ranka shared a video on his X handle shortly after the detention, showing him and Saurav Das, along with outfit's national organisation in-charge Ajinkya Shinde, climbing the locked gates of Jantar Mantar and entering the venue before police personnel present there intervened and took hold of them. CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke reacted to the judicial arrest of the outfit, asking if unfolding the tricolour was their fault.“Ashu and Saurav have been sent to 5 days judicial custody. Their fault? Unfurling tricolour at Jantar Mantar. Show some guts, @narendramodi. If you’re so determined to crush dissent, have the courage to officially declare an Emergency instead of hiding behind these cowardly tactics,” Dipke said on X.What Delhi Police saidA Delhi Police spokesperson said that on October 13, during the morning hours, Das, Ranka and Shinde and 11 other members of CJP reached Jantar Mantar, which has been denotified as designated protest site, by trespassing through a private premise.“Police personnel deployed at the spot intervened and attempted to stop them. However, the protestors allegedly obstructed police personnel in the discharge of their official duties,” cops said.All 14 persons were detained, police said, adding that an FIR at Connaught Police Police Station under 223A (knowing disobedience of a lawful order issued by a public servant), 332 (house-trespass in order to commit and offence) and 61(2) (criminal conspiracy) of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, was lodged and another FIR under BNS sections 221 (voluntarily obstructing public servant in the discharge of their public functions), 115(2) (voluntarily causing simple hurt to another person), 132 (assault or criminal force used to deter a public servant from discharging their duty, and other related sections, was lodged at Parliament Street Police Station.Subsequently, all the persons were bound down in the respective cases as per law, police said.“In view of their alleged repeated attempts to disturb public peace and violate the law, Ashustosh Ranka, Sourav Das and Ajinkya Shinde were arrested under the relevant provisions of law. Their alleged attempts to instigate others through social media to engage in similar unlawful activities were also taken into consideration,” police said.Police said that after considering the matter, the SEM court, considering the kalandra details and in view of repeated violations of law, and serious apprehension that if released on bail they will instigate others to violate law, remanded Das and Ranka to five days of judicial custody.Shinde was bound down to maintain peace and good behaviour for six months on personal bond and surety of Rs. 5000.Advocate Abhisht Hela said, “We argued against the remand, stating that the law permits only the judicial magistrate first or second class to adjudicate the matter and that no call was made by the accused to gather at Jantar Mantar”.Das, Ranka breach Jantar MantarDas and Ranka had come with at least 10 more people and some of them managed to enter Jantar Mantar carrying the national flag to protest against Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar. They all have been detained, a senior police officer said.The video showed Ranka and others shouting ‘Bharat Mata ki jai’ and ‘Gyanesh Kumar isteefa do’ [Gyanesh Kumar resign] chants.Saurav Das said on X later that they have been “taken away to Jaffarpur Police Station.”CJP founder took to X and said, “Cockroaches with the Tiranga sneaked into Jantar Mantar early this morning before they were picked up by Delhi Police." “You cannot denotify the resistance,” Dipke said on his X post after the detention of Saurav Das, Ashutosh Ranka and Ajinkya Shinde for entering Jantar Mantar.Jantar Mantar loses protest site statusThe attempt to enter Jantar Mantar in Lutyens' Delhi came a day after it was de-notified as a designated protest venue. A Delhi Police circular on Monday listed three new sites — spread out across the city — for holding demonstrations, making Jantar Mantar, where CJP led a mega stir in June and July that led to the resignation of education minister Dharmendra Pradhan, off limits.According to the circular, the Ministry of Home Affairs had constituted a committee to examine alternative proper venues for citizen's right for organising/protest/demonstrations in place of the existing "designated site". Based on the committee's recommendations, Jantar Mantar as a protest venue has been de-notified, it stated, listing the three new venues - -Ramlila Ground, Burari Ground, and CBD Ground, in Shahdara.Jantar Mantar has been the hotbed of youth-led protests since June this year, led by Abhijeet Dipke-founded Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), which ultimately resulted in the resignation of education minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged exam irregularities.