The Delhi Police Crime Branch has summoned Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka for questioning in two cases linked to their alleged entry into the denotified protest area at Jantar Mantar, a day after they were released from Tihar Jail.
The Crime Branch issued notices to the two leaders after their release on Wednesday, October 21, directing them to appear at its Rajouri Garden office at noon on Thursday, October 22. CJP leader Shinde has also been summoned to join the questioning.
The investigation concerns allegations of trespassing at Jantar Mantar, obstructing police personnel on duty and disobeying a government order. The two cases were transferred from the Connaught Place and Parliament Street police stations to the Crime Branch on October 21. The Delhi Police cited the sensitive nature of the cases and the need for an impartial investigation while making the transfer.
Mr. Das and Mr. Ranka were detained on October 13 after they allegedly climbed over the gates of the barricaded protest area. They were remanded to five days of judicial custody on October 14, with their custody extended by two more days on October 19. The arrests followed an incident involving 14 CJP members who allegedly entered the protest site through private premises and obstructed police personnel.
The Connaught Place FIR was registered under Sections 223(a), 332 and 61(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. The sections relate to disobedience of an order promulgated by a public servant, house-trespass to commit an offence and criminal conspiracy. The Parliament Street FIR invoked Sections 221, 115(2), 132, 121(1) and 3(5) of the BNS, covering alleged obstruction and assault or use of force against public servants, along with acts carried out by several people in furtherance of a common intention.
The leaders were released after Assistant Commissioner of Police Ritu Raj, presiding over the proceedings as a Special Executive Magistrate, accepted their sureties on Wednesday. The order came despite the Delhi Police seeking a three-day extension of their judicial custody, citing law-and-order concerns. The release followed the expiry of the judicial custody period and proceedings before the SEM.
The dispute is linked to restrictions on protests at Jantar Mantar after the site was denotified as a protest venue. CJP activists had earlier given undertakings that they would not call for protests there while it remained denotified and would not engage in activities that could breach peace or create a law-and-order situation. The police have alleged that Mr. Das and Mr. Ranka violated a previously signed peace bond.
The Crime Branch questioning will now form part of the investigation into the two FIRs. The summons represent the next official step after the transfer of the cases and the release of the three leaders from custody.
