CJP Leaders Seek More Time to Appear Before Delhi Police

New Delhi, October 22 (Daily Kiran) : Leaders of the Cockroach People’s Party (CJP), Saurav Das, Ashutosh Ranka, and Ajinkya Shinde, have requested additional time to appear before the Delhi Police‘s Crime Branch for questioning. They were initially summoned to the Crime Branch office in Rajouri Garden at noon on Thursday but sought an extension.

This request comes shortly after Das and Ranka were released from Tihar Jail on Wednesday, following a week in judicial custody. Earlier this week, the Delhi Police transferred cases related to the protest to the Crime Branch.

The cases stem from an incident on October 13, when Das, Ranka, Shinde, and 11 others allegedly entered Jantar Mantar without authorization. Jantar Mantar is not officially designated as a location for protests under the law.

All individuals involved were taken into custody. Shinde was released on bail, while Das and Ranka remained in judicial custody for a week. The CJP members were protesting alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Review (SIR) of voter lists and vocally criticized Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar during the demonstration.

The two leaders were released after providing written assurances to a Special Executive Magistrate (SEM) that they would maintain peace and refrain from protests at Jantar Mantar until it is officially designated as a protest site.

SEM Rituraj ordered their release upon the submission of personal bonds of ₹50,000 each, along with the written assurances pledging to avoid any disruption of peace. The SEM’s court indicated that necessary immediate measures could be ensured through the bonds to prevent any breach of public order under Section 135(3) of the Indian Citizen Security Code (BNSS).