A special executive magistrate on Wednesday ordered the release of Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) co-conveners Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka from judicial custody after they agreed not to call any protests at Jantar Mantar until the site is re-notified as a designated protest site.
The magistrate directed the two leaders to strictly comply with their undertakings and bonds and appear at every hearing. The court thereby, accepted the undertakings and ordered their release on furnishing personal bonds and surety bonds of ₹ 50,000 each. They have also been asked to appear with their sureties on October 23, when the police must submit a verification report on the sureties furnished by them.
The written undertakings, furnished before assistant commissioner of police (ACP) Ritu Raj, acting as the SEM of New Delhi district , said, “We reiterate our undertaking and commitment towards peace, law and order, public tranquility and further we specifically state that we will not make any calls for protest at Jantar Mantar till such a time that it is de-notified in accordance with law. In it, they also promised “not to commit any breach of peace” and expressed “full faith” in the judiciary and the SEM court. The undertakings further reiterated that any protest undertaken by them would be done “within the four corners of the constitution”.
The order was also made public on Wednesday.
Background to the case
Police officials in their submissions had warned that the two could regroup and plan another protest if released. On Monday, the SEM court extended their judicial custody for another two days. The defence had argued that there was no concrete evidence to suggest they posed an ongoing threat to public safety or would breach the peace.
Delhi Police had opposed their release, citing the sensitivity of the festival season and alleging that the leaders had previously violated peace bonds.
