Delhi Magistrate Extends CJP Leaders’ Custody by Two Days

A Special Executive Magistrate extended the judicial custody of Cockroach Janata Party leaders Ashutosh Ranka and Saurav Das by two days on October 19, keeping them in Tihar Jail as proceedings over their detention continued. They were expected to be produced before the magistrate again on October 21. The leaders had initially been remanded to five days of judicial custody on October 13 after their detention in connection with an incident at Jantar Mantar. On October 19, Delhi Police reportedly sought a further five days, while the magistrate granted two. The reports do not provide the full reasoning for the latest order. Police allege that Ranka, Das and other party members entered Jantar Mantar despite restrictions on access to the site. Reports say the group allegedly climbed over a locked gate, displayed the national flag and raised slogans. The two leaders were detained and placed in preventive custody before being remanded to jail. The allegations have not been established as findings in the material available about the case. The custody extension comes amid competing claims over the leaders’ release proceedings. The CJP says authorities have delayed the process by...