On Monday (19 October), a Special Executive Magistrate (SEM) court in Delhi said that the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) activists Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka showed “no respect for law”. The court raised serious concerns about them breaching public places and tranquillity.
SEM Ritu Raj said that, given their previous actions, their promise not to repeat the conduct was not convincing. Adding further, SEM said that they showed “habitualness” by calling for protests in de-notified areas. Therefore, the Court extended their judicial custody by two days.
The court stated, “The application filed by IO (Investigating Officer) is supported by substantial material on record, raising serious concerns regarding the likelihood of breach of peace and disturbance of public tranquillity, which can not be brushed aside without proper consideration.”
The SEM rejected both sureties produced for Ranka and Das after finding them unfit. One surety could not explain a mismatch between the photograph on his bond and his Aadhaar card, while the other could not provide basic details about Das, including his parentage and address.
The court concluded that neither surety had sufficient control over the activists to ensure their presence before the authorities and directed them to furnish fresh sureties. It has now listed the case for further consideration on 21 October.
Saurav Das, Ashutosh Ranka have no respect for law, can breach peace and tranquility: Delhi SEM court report by @prashantjha996 https://t.co/7xzmm7zLjd
— Bar and Bench (@barandbench) October 19, 2026
Delhi Police detained Das and Ranka on 13 October after they entered the barricaded Jantar Mantar denotified protest site by climbing its gates. They were sent to five days’ judicial custody on 14 October and were produced before the SEM on Monday (19 October) after that custody ended.
Police told the court that the duo had breached their 11 October undertaking by calling on the public to assemble at Jantar Mantar, which has been de-notified as a protest site and by repeatedly using social media to mobilise people for protests at non-designated locations.
The police officials also mentioned that the predecessor court had received an anonymous threatening WhatsApp message and said that a separate daily diary entry had been recorded in connection with it.
