Delhi Police seeks extension of custody of CJP leaders Saurav Das, Ashutosh Ranka

The Delhi Police has sought a further extension of the judicial custody of Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka before a Special Executive Magistrate, PTI reported on Wednesday, citing police sources.

Earlier in the day, the two leaders withdrew their petition in the Delhi High Court challenging the extension of their custody.

Justice Subramonium Prasad allowed the withdrawal, advising them to await the outcome of a hearing before the magistrate later on Wednesday. The court said they could approach the appellate court if their grievance remained unresolved.


The petition challenged an October 19 order by a newly appointed SEM at Mandir Marg police station remanding the leaders in custody until October 21.

The judge clarified that allowing the withdrawal did not amount to any observation on the merits of the case. The court also orally observed that a petition under Article 226 of the Constitution was not an appropriate remedy.

The proceedings stemmed from the leaders' detention on October 13, when they allegedly climbed over a locked gate to enter Jantar Mantar, which had been denotified as a designated protest site. They were among CJP workers who displayed the national flag and raised slogans against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

The two leaders were initially sent to five days of judicial custody. Their legal team had argued that their continued detention despite furnishing sureties violated their right to personal liberty.

Separately, the Delhi Police transferred two FIRs linked to incidents at Connaught Place and Jantar Mantar on October 13 to its Crime Branch, ANI reported, citing sources.