Delhi Police transfers two CJP protest cases to Crime Branch

Delhi Police has transferred two cases connected with an October 13 protest at Jantar Mantar involving Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka to its Crime Branch, according to police-source reporting. The transfer places both investigations under the unit as the leaders challenge their continued detention in the Delhi High Court. One case concerns alleged unauthorised entry into the Jantar Mantar area, which had been removed from the list of designated protest venues. Police allege that the group entered the area without authorisation. Reports say a second case was transferred on October 20, after the first transfer was reported on October 19. Police-source accounts put the number of cases involving the two leaders under Crime Branch investigation at two. The reports say the protest included calls for Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar to resign over alleged irregularities in the revision of electoral rolls. The Election Commission has denied allegations of political bias in that process. Police allegations about the protest conduct have not been established as findings of guilt. Das and Ranka were detained after the protest and placed in...