New Delhi, Oct 19 — A Special Executive Magistrate (SEM) court on Monday extended the judicial custody of Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka till October 21, observing that their conduct "shows no respect for law" and reflects their "habitualness in calling protest at de-notified areas".
In an order, SEM Ritu Raj said the duo had deliberately breached the bonds furnished by them on October 11 before the SEM, South-West District, and subsequently committed a breach of peace in the present case.
"The grounds of apprehension as presented before me apparently suggest that the conduct of the respondents (Das and Ranka) is not above board; rather it shows no respect for law and their habitualness in calling protest at de-notified areas," the order stated.
The executive magistrate observed that the assurance given by the two CJP leaders during arguments that they would not repeat the offence did not inspire confidence in view of their past conduct and the material placed on record by the investigating officer.
"The application filed by IO is supported by substantial material on record, raising serious concerns regarding the likelihood of breach of peace and disturbance of public tranquillity, which cannot be brushed aside without proper consideration," the order said.
It recorded that the investigating officer had highlighted repeated calls made by the respondents on social media to mobilise people for protests at non-designated sites, including Jantar Mantar and Connaught Place, despite the availability of other designated protest venues.
The respondents' counsel argued that the two leaders had not made any calls for protests after October 10 and assured the magistrate that they would not repeat the alleged offence.
Rejecting the assurance as insufficient in view of the material on record, the SEM directed the respondents to place their submissions in writing within two days, with an advance copy to the investigating officer.
The magistrate also found the sureties furnished on behalf of the respondents unfit after an inquiry, citing discrepancies in identity documents and the sureties' inability to provide basic details about the persons for whom they stood surety.
It directed the respondents to furnish fresh sureties.
Das and Ranka were sent to judicial custody till October 21 and directed to be produced before the court at 2 p.m. on that date.
The two CJP leaders were initially sent to five-day judicial custody on October 14 in connection with the Jantar Mantar trespassing case. They were among 14 people detained on October 13 after allegedly entering the de-notified protest site through private premises and obstructing police personnel from discharging their official duties.
The CJP members were protesting against alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and had raised slogans against Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar.