Delhi High Court Denies Immediate Relief for CJP Leaders in Bond Violation Case
The Delhi High Court has advised CJP leaders to wait for SEM Courts ruling on their judicial custody extension.
New Delhi, October 21 (Daily Kiran) : The Delhi High Court addressed the petition of Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka, leaders of the Cockroach People’s Party (CJP), on Wednesday. They challenged a Special Executive Magistrate (SEM) order that extended their judicial custody. Their custody period was set to expire today.
The court questioned the necessity of approaching the High Court directly since the case was scheduled for a hearing in the SEM court. The judges suggested waiting for the SEM’s ruling at 2 PM before considering legal options. They noted that if the SEM court’s decision favored the petitioners by 4 PM, the matter would effectively be resolved. However, if the outcome was unfavorable, the petitioners could then approach an appropriate revision court.
The judges pointed out that the petitioners had violated the bond conditions. They emphasized that the law allows for strict adherence to bond terms and questioned whether enforcing such conditions could be deemed unlawful. The court highlighted that the petitioners had gone to Jantar Mantar without permission after a de-notification, and a challenge to that de-notification is still pending in the Supreme Court.
The court remarked on the potential for others to follow the petitioners’ lead when they break barricades during protests. They expressed concern about individuals who might act outside the petitioners’ control, referencing similar incidents observed internationally. The judges also noted that the issues raised by the petitioners have changed over time, prompting them to question the identity and purpose of the organization.
After inquiring about their ages, the court commented that neither Saurav nor Ashutosh belongs to Generation Z. The judges suggested that the petitioners withdraw their plea and await the SEM court’s decision.
This legal action followed the SEM court’s extension of the leaders’ custody until October 21, citing their behavior as disrespectful to the law and indicating a pattern of protesting in restricted areas. The SEM court also invalidated their bail, citing inconsistencies in identification documents and a lack of basic information from those who provided the bail.
On October 13, 14 individuals, including Saurav Das, Ashutosh Ranka, and party member Ajinkya Shinde, were detained for allegedly entering a private area at Jantar Mantar and obstructing police duties. The CJP members were protesting irregularities in the Special Intensive Review of the voter list and had raised slogans against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
