‘Bail bond of Rs 50,000, no protests at Jantar Mantar’: Conditions for CJP leader’s release

New Delhi: A Special Executive Magistrate (SEM) court on Wednesday granted the release of Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) leaders, Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka. Both of them were released from Tihar jail at around 9 pm, hours after the court passed its verdict.

The 2 leaders, along with at least 12 party members were taken into custody, following an attempt to enter Jantar Mantar, which is no longer a protest site. On October 13, they were sent to 5 days of judicial custody. On Monday, their judicial custody was extended. They knocked on the doors of the Delhi High court, but later withdrew their petition.

On the same day and hours after withdrawing their petition, challenging extension of their custody, both the CJP spokespersons were released from Tihar jail, following an order by the SEM court. But the release came with certain conditions.

Conditions for release of Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka

According to a report in Live Law, Das and Ranka were released after they gave a written undertaking in court, promising to not call for any further protests at the Jantar Mantar, as long as it remained denotified as a protest site. They have also promised not to breach peace.

The 2 of them further assured the court that whatever protests they organise would be within the confines and norms of the Indian Constitution. In their written undertakings, both Ranka and Das expressed their faith in the judiciary, including the SEM court. The magistrate took the undertakings on record.

Given the written undertakings and the submissions from both sides, the court held that the provisions under Section 135 (3) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 would be secured, by requiring both of the leaders to execute the bonds they signed and maintain peace.

An inquiry however is still on in the case. Both Ranka and Das had been asked to furnish personal bonds and surety bonds of Rs 50,000 each, till the enquiry is concluded.

Both of them have also been asked to appear in all future hearings and ensure that they execute the bonds that they have signed.