Delhi Police has registered an FIR against unknown persons after a special executive magistrate handling the bail proceedings of CJP leaders Saurabh Das and Ashutosh Ranka reportedly received a threatening message, according to an ANI report citing sources. The development came amid allegations by the party that the hearing on the two leaders’ release had been delayed.
The magistrate, identified in the report as a special executive magistrate, had sent Das and Ranka to five days of judicial custody on October 14. Police had cited a preventive report, repeated alleged law violations by activists and concerns that the two could again violate the law or incite others if released on bail.
The reported FIR follows an earlier non-cognisable report, or NCR, filed by the police. In such cases, police generally cannot arrest a suspect without a warrant or begin an investigation without permission from a magistrate. The latest FIR means the alleged threat is now being handled as a cognisable criminal case, although the report does not identify the sender of the message or provide details of the sections invoked.
The dispute surfaced during proceedings concerning the leaders’ detention after a CJP protest. The source report says the magistrate had alleged receiving a threatening message after the proceedings involving Das and Ranka. CJP’s legal affairs head Ratna Singh questioned why the message had not been acted upon separately and argued that the bail hearing should continue.
Singh said the hearing was scheduled for noon but was delayed, alleging that the special executive magistrate and the government prosecutor appeared only at around 5.30 pm. She alleged that instead of considering the leaders’ release, the proceedings were redirected towards the alleged threat. Her statements were reported by Live Hindustan and attributed to her; the report does not include an independent response from the Delhi Police or the prosecution to those allegations.
Singh also described the detention as illegal and alleged that the police and administration were attempting to keep Das and Ranka in jail. CJP chief Abhijit Dipke made a similar allegation in a post, claiming that the administration was delaying proceedings to prevent the leaders’ release. These claims remain allegations by the party and have not been independently established in the supplied report.
The case follows a CJP protest called on October 10, during which Dipke, Ranka and Das were initially detained. Singh later said on October 11 that they were released after signing a bond requiring them to maintain peace and good behaviour for one year. Police said a bond of Rs 50,000 was taken under those conditions before the special executive magistrate’s court released them.
The FIR adds a separate police investigation to a detention and bail dispute already involving preventive proceedings. The supplied report does not state whether any person has been identified, arrested or questioned in connection with the alleged threat. It also does not specify the next hearing date or the present status of the bail proceedings.
