Delhi High Court Questions CJP Leaders’ Custody Challenge

The Delhi High Court questioned Cockroach Janta Party leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka on October 21 as it considered their challenge to a two-day extension of their judicial custody. The hearing focused on the legal route they had taken, alleged breaches of peace bonds and their entry into Jantar Mantar after it was removed from designated protest sites. The reports do not establish a final custody outcome. The Special Executive Magistrate’s October 19 order extended the leaders’ custody through October 21 and directed them to provide fresh sureties. The magistrate cited concerns about a possible breach of peace and said the leaders had allegedly breached bonds furnished earlier. Das and Ranka disputed the basis for the custody extension and challenged the rejection of their sureties. The order said one proposed surety’s photograph did not match the image on identity documents and that the person could not provide another valid identification document. It said a second surety could not provide basic details about Das. The magistrate concluded that the sureties had not shown they could ensure the leaders’ appearance and required replacements. During the High Court...