CJP leaders skip Crime Branch questioning, seek more time

Three leaders of the Cockroach Janata Party did not attend Delhi Police Crime Branch questioning on October 22 and sought more time, prompting police to plan fresh notices. Saurav Das, Ashutosh Ranka and Ajinkya Shinde had been summoned to the Crime Branch’s Rajouri Garden office for noon. The questioning concerns two cases arising from an October 13 protest at Jantar Mantar. Police were expected to issue new notices, but no revised appearance date was reported. The summonses came a day after Das and Ranka were released from judicial custody. Special Executive Magistrate Ritu Raj ordered their release on October 21 after accepting personal and surety bonds of Rs 50,000 each and written undertakings to maintain peace and comply with the law. Shinde had also been summoned, but reports on the release order concerned Das and Ranka. Under their undertakings, Das and Ranka agreed not to call for protests at Jantar Mantar while it remains denotified as a designated protest site. They also undertook to keep any future protests within the constitutional framework. The magistrate directed them to attend each hearing and comply with the bond conditions. The police transferred two cases...