Agencies | New Delhi:
A Delhi court on Wednesday ordered the release of Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka, who were in judicial custody in connection with an alleged trespassing case at Jantar Mantar.
The Special Executive Magistrate (SEM) rejected the Delhi Police’s plea seeking a three-day extension of their custody. The two leaders were produced before the magistrate, and their sureties were submitted during the proceedings.
Das and Ranka were taken into custody on October 13 after allegedly climbing over a locked gate to enter Jantar Mantar, which had earlier been denotified as a designated protest site. They were subsequently remanded to five days of judicial custody.
Their custody was extended by two days on October 19 and was due to expire on Wednesday.
Earlier in the day, the Delhi High Court declined to interfere with their judicial custody, asking the two leaders to await the outcome of the proceedings before the SEM. The High Court also observed that they could approach the appellate court if their grievance persisted.
Meanwhile, the Delhi Police has transferred the case to its Crime Branch for further investigation.
