New Delhi, 14 October (H.S.): A Special Executive Magistrate on Wednesday remanded Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka to five days of judicial custody in connection with a protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi.

Delhi Police has registered two separate first information reports (FIRs) against 14 CJP members, including party spokesperson Saurav Das, Ashutosh Ranka and Ajinkya Shinde, at the Connaught Place and Parliament Street police stations. According to the police, CJP members attempted to stage a protest at Jantar Mantar on October 13 despite restrictions on demonstrations at the site. They allegedly entered the premises through an adjoining private property and obstructed police personnel in the discharge of their duties. The police subsequently detained the three leaders.

The three leaders were produced before a Special Executive Magistrate on Wednesday morning. Following the proceedings, Das and Ranka were remanded to five days of judicial custody, while Shinde was directed to execute a bond of Rs 5,000 to ensure that he maintained peace and good behaviour for six months.

Delhi Police has removed Jantar Mantar from its list of officially designated protest venues, effectively prohibiting demonstrations at the site. The CJP leaders staged their protest against this decision.

According to Sachin Sharma, Deputy Commissioner of Police for the New Delhi district, the incident occurred on the morning of October 13. Police personnel deployed at Jantar Mantar attempted to stop CJP members from staging a demonstration. However, the activists allegedly entered the premises through private property and obstructed police personnel in the performance of their duties. The police detained all 14 members and initiated legal proceedings against them under the relevant provisions of the law.

According to the police, the first FIR was registered at Connaught Place police station under FIR No. 289/26. It invokes Sections 223(a), 332 and 61(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). The second FIR was registered at Parliament Street police station under FIR No. 128/26 and invokes Sections 221, 115(2), 132, 121(1) and 3(5) of the BNS. The two cases involve a total of 14 CJP members.

The police also initiated separate preventive proceedings against CJP leaders Ashutosh Ranka, Saurav Das and Ajinkya Shinde.

The police alleged that the activities of the three leaders could disturb public peace and adversely affect law and order. They further alleged that the leaders had used social media to encourage others to engage in similar activities. On these grounds, the police initiated preventive action against the three leaders and produced them before the Special Executive Magistrate.

According to the police, proceedings were initiated under Sections 126 and 170 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS). The police expressed apprehension that the three leaders might violate the law again and encourage others to do the same if released.

After considering the matter, the Special Executive Magistrate remanded Das and Ranka to five days of judicial custody. Shinde, meanwhile, was directed to furnish a personal bond of Rs 5,000, along with a surety of the same amount, as an undertaking to maintain peace and good behaviour for six months.

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar