NEW DELHI: The Delhi Police has transferred the second FIR registered against Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) activists Ashutosh Ranka and Saurav Das to the Crime Branch, sources said on Wednesday.
The two cases were registered on October 13 in connection with the activists’ entry and protests at Connaught Place and Jantar Mantar without approval. The Connaught Place case was transferred to the Crime Branch on Tuesday, while the Jantar Mantar case has now also been handed over to the agency, sources added.
Meanwhile, Ranka and Das have approached the Delhi High Court challenging an October 19 order of a Special Executive Magistrate extending their judicial custody. Their legal team has argued that their continued detention, despite furnishing sureties, violates their fundamental right to personal liberty under Article 21 of the Constitution.
The challenge concerns proceedings initiated against them under Sections 126 and 170 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS). According to their lawyers, the magistrate rejected fresh sureties submitted on October 19 and directed the activists to explain why an apprehension of breach of peace should not arise.
The legal team stated that the two were detained on October 10 after arriving at Terminal 3 of the Indira Gandhi International Airport. Preventive proceedings were initiated the following day, and they were released after executing bonds of ₹50,000 each.
They were detained again on October 13 after arriving at Jantar Mantar carrying the national flag and were subsequently shown as arrested under Sections 126 and 170 of the BNSS on October 14.
According to their lawyers, the police sought a further extension of their custody on October 19, citing apprehensions of a breach of peace. The activists have sought the setting aside of the magistrate’s order, contending that their continued detention is arbitrary and contrary to established legal principles.
The matter is scheduled to be taken up by the Delhi High Court on Wednesday.
