CJP Leaders Appear Before Magistrate: Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) appeared before a Special Executive Magistrate (SEM) in New Delhi on Friday after the Delhi Police Crime Branch probing two cases related to the party’s protest at Jantar Mantar on October 13.
As per PTI report published in The Times of India, the two leaders were interrogated by Crime Branch in relation to the cases. The arrest came two days after the duo got released from Tihar jail where they had spent a week in judicial custody.
Why Did CJP Leaders Appear Before the Magistrate?
The Appearance was filed in the Special Executive Magistrate’s order to release Ranka and Das from custody after they provided personal bonds and sureties, as well as written undertakings to keep the peace.
Both were summoned before the magistrate along with their sureties on October 23. The sureties of both were also verified in the process.
Earlier, Delhi Police had moved for an extension of the judicial custody on the ground that there were apprehensions of breach of peace. The magistrate rejected the plea and directed their release after taking into consideration the undertakings provided by the leaders.
What Is the Delhi Crime Branch Investigating?
The FIRs are in connection with two FIRs registered after the October 13 protest at Jantar Mantar where CJP members had tried to enter the protest site which had been de-notified as a protest site.
14 CJP members were taken into custody by Delhi Police following the incident. Cases have been registered against them for offences, namely trespass, disobedience to order promulgated by public servant and obstruction and assault of public servant, among others.
The two cases, which were registered with Connaught Place and Parliament Street police stations respectively, were subsequently shifted to the Crime Branch to continue investigation. The matter is under the process of law till now.
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What Is the CJP Protest About?
The protest was held by the BJP leader against Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar over irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
CJP leaders have called for the Chief Election Commissioner’s resignation over the exercise to update the electoral roll and the purported removal of voters’ names.
The protest on October 13 comes days after police have taken action against the CJP leaders and prior to the scheduled protest in Delhi. Subsequently, Ranka and Das were sent into judicial custody on charges of violation of peace bonds.
What Happens Next?
Since the Ranka and Das appeared before the Special Executive Magistrate and were interrogated by the Crime Branch, the investigation of the two FIRs is still in progress.
SEM Ritu Raj directed the two activists to furnish personal and surety bonds of Rs 50,000 each, valid until the conclusion of the enquiry. They were also instructed to appear on every hearing date and comply with the conditions outlined in their bonds and undertakings.
“Further judicial custody does not appear to be necessary at this stage, particularly after written undertakings before this Court,” the SEM court observed while ordering their release.
