Delhi court extends CJP leaders’ custody by two days

A Delhi court on October 19 extended Cockroach Janta Party leaders Ashutosh Ranka and Saurav Das’s judicial custody by two days, while Delhi Police transferred the trespassing case against them to the Crime Branch for further investigation. Special Executive Magistrate Ritu Raj ordered the extension, citing concerns that the men could repeat the alleged conduct and that their release could lead to a breach of public order. The court also rejected sureties submitted on their behalf, citing an apparent mismatch between photographs on the bond documents and Aadhaar cards, according to the court account. Police sources said the case was transferred to the Crime Branch’s Inter State Cell. The reports describe two first information reports: one registered at Connaught Place police station and another at Parliament Street police station, with alleged offences including trespass and obstruction of public servants. The transfer is for further investigation; the reports do not describe any findings by the Crime Branch. Police allege that Ranka and Das entered the Jantar Mantar area through private premises, despite the site no longer being designated for protests, and obstructed...