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New Delhi : Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) co-conveners Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka appeared before the Delhi Police Crime Branch at its Rajouri Garden office on Thursday in connection with the investigation into the October protests at Jantar Mantar.
The questioning relates to cases registered over alleged trespassing and violations of restrictions at the de-notified protest site. The two leaders had earlier been arrested after allegedly entering the restricted premises and waving the national flag on October 13, despite having signed a peace bond just days before the incident.
The controversy dates back to an October 14 case in which Das, Ranka, CJP leader Ajinkya Shinde and 11 others were accused of entering the restricted area while protesting against alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The protesters had also raised slogans targeting Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
Following their arrest, Das and Ranka remained in judicial custody at Tihar Jail for approximately a week before securing release on October 21. Their release was ordered by Special Executive Magistrate Ritu Raj after they furnished personal and surety bonds of Rs 50,000 each.
As part of the release conditions, both leaders submitted written undertakings expressing faith in the judicial system and assuring that they would maintain peace and public order. Meanwhile, Ajinkya Shinde had earlier been granted relief after furnishing a peace bond.
The investigation was subsequently transferred to the Delhi Police Crime Branch, which had summoned the two co-conveners towards the end of October. They were granted additional time before appearing for questioning on Thursday.
The latest development marks another chapter in the ongoing police investigation into the CJP-led protests against the alleged discrepancies in the voter list revision exercise.
