CJP Leaders Seek Delhi High Court Hearing After Custody Extension

The Cockroach Janta Party's protests centred on alleged irregularities in electoral rolls and demands for Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar to resign. The party called its demonstrations "Lehra Do Tiranga", according to Mint.

The case keeping Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka in custody stems from their entry into Jantar Mantar on October 14. The Hindu reported that they scaled locked gates after the location had been denotified as a designated protest site. They were sent to five days of judicial custody.

On October 16, police detained CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke ahead of a planned rally in Delhi. World News CNA reported that police also detained student leaders and protesters demanding the election chief's resignation over the removal of more than 130 million voters from voter lists.

Supporters continued to demonstrate. Times now reported that hundreds of CJP supporters and members of student organisations held flash protests in the national capital following the march call.

On October 17, Dipke received conditional bail. Mint reported that he appeared before a special executive magistrate at Mandir Marg police station. According to The Hindu, he signed a bond promising not to engage in activities that would breach the peace or create a law-and-order situation. AISA president Neha Bora was also released from detention.

The expected release of Das and Ranka on October 18 did not happen. The Hindu reported the CJP's allegation that their release had been delayed and four sureties rejected. On October 19, Deutsche Welle reported that the judge had recused himself after claiming he had been threatened.

Later on October 19, a Delhi court extended the pair's judicial custody by two days, The Hindu reported. NDTV India, citing the order, reported that the special executive magistrate found they had deliberately breached bonds submitted on October 11.

The investigation into their alleged unauthorised entry at Jantar Mantar was also transferred to the Delhi Police Crime Branch, according to police sources cited by Times now.

Das and Ranka have now approached the Delhi High Court against their judicial custody, Legal News India reported on October 20. Their legal team is seeking an urgent bail hearing, according to Times now. The supplied coverage does not report a High Court decision.

Dipke is out on conditional bail, but his colleagues remain in custody. On October 20, India News reported that he expressed solidarity with them and urged people to remember them during the festive season.

The immediate issue is whether the Delhi High Court will take up the urgent hearing request and grant relief to Das and Ranka. Their application follows the two-day custody extension, according to Times now.

The separate investigation into the alleged Jantar Mantar trespass is now with the Crime Branch. The coverage reporting that transfer does not give a timetable for its next steps, according to Times now.