CJP leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka granted bail; court rejects police custody plea

NEW DELHI: Cockroach Janta Party (SJP) leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka, who were arrested during a protest at Delhi's Jantar Mantar demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, have been granted bail. The Delhi Special Executive Magistrate granted them bail on their seventh day in custody.

The Delhi Police had detained the two leaders, accusing them of forcibly entering the prohibited area at Jantar Mantar and attempting to create a law and order problem. After the bail conditions were fulfilled, the court ordered their release.

Earlier, during the hearing of their bail plea in the High Court, Justice Subramonium Prasad had observed that Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka were not Gen Z. The court made the observation while hearing a writ petition filed by the two leaders challenging the extension of their judicial custody.

Pointing out that the petitioners, aged 27 and 31, did not belong to the Gen Z age group, the High Court questioned why they had gone to Jantar Mantar without permission. It also asked why they had approached the High Court when the Special Executive Magistrate was scheduled to hear the case on the same day.