Cockroach Janta Party leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka were released from Tihar Jail on Wednesday evening after seven days in judicial custody, following a written undertaking that they would not call for protests at Jantar Mantar while the site remains de-notified under law.
The undertaking was submitted before the Special Executive Magistrate’s court and stated that the two would maintain “peace and tranquillity”. Das and Ranka also agreed that any future protest would be conducted “within the four corners of the Constitution”, according to the order.
The order requires both men to furnish personal bonds and surety bonds of Rs 50,000 each, along with the undertaking. Their release came after they were produced before the Special Executive Magistrate at Mandir Marg police station ahead of the expiry of their custody.
Das and Ranka had been detained at Delhi airport on October 10 and had earlier signed bonds promising to “maintain peace and good behaviour” for a year. They subsequently entered Jantar Mantar on October 13 and waved the Tricolour. They were detained again and sent to judicial custody for five days for allegedly violating the peace bonds.
The Special Executive Magistrate later extended their custody by two days, taking the total period to seven days. The extension order, signed by SEM Ritu Raj, an ACP-rank officer with the Delhi Police, said their conduct did not inspire “confidence” and that they had “no respect for law”. It also described them as having habitually called for protests at a site that had been de-notified.
The proceedings centre on the administrative restrictions governing public demonstrations at Jantar Mantar, a location historically associated with protests in the national capital. The undertaking submitted by the two leaders refers specifically to the site’s de-notification and conditions any future protest on compliance with the law.
Earlier on Wednesday, Das and Ranka withdrew their plea challenging the SEM’s decision to extend their custody after the Delhi High Court pointed to their alleged breach of an earlier peace bond and said an alternative remedy was available. The two had approached the High Court on Tuesday.
The release does not remove the conditions imposed by the SEM court. Das and Ranka remain required to comply with the personal and surety bond conditions and the written undertaking accompanying their release.
