Won't call for protest at Jantar Mantar till it is denotified as protest site: Saurav Das, Ashutosh Ranka assure SEM court

Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) activists Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka assured a Special Executive Magistrate (SEM) court in Delhi that they will not call for any protest at Jantar Mantar till it remains a denotified protest site.

Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Ritu Raj, acting as the SEM, recorded their statement in the order directing their release from judicial custody.

The undertaking also states that they will not commit any breach of peace and that they have full faith in the judiciary and all its instruments, including the SEM Court.

"That we reiterate our undertaking and commitment towards peace, law and order, public Tranquillity and further we specifically State that we will not make any calls for protest at Janta Manar till such a time that it is de-notified in accordance with Law. That we further reiterate that any protest undertaken would be done within the four corners of the Constitution," this the complete undertaking," the undertaking recorded in the order states.

After the Delhi Police counsel pointed out to the SEM Court that statements were given in the media on October 19, undermining the majesty of the SEM Courts, Das and Ranka's counsel made a "verbal and unconditional apology" to the Court.

They also assured the court that such conduct will not be repeated in future.

The SEM then said that immediate measures contemplated under Section 135(3) BNSS for the prevention of a breach of the peace or disturbance of public tranquillity can be adequately secured by the execution of a bond for keeping the peace, supported by the written undertakings now given today in the Court.

"Hence, further judicial custody does not appear to be necessary at this stage, particularly after written undertakings before this Court," the court said.

It then ordered their release on personal and surety bonds of ₹50,000 till the completion of inquiry.

The matter will be heard next on October 23.

The police had detained Das and Ranka on October 13 after they climbed the gates of the barricaded Jantar Mantar site

On October 14, they were sent to judicial custody for five days. On October 19, the custody was extended for two more days.

In its October 19 order, the SEM court said that Das and Ranka's conduct showed that they have no respect for the law and that there are serious concerns about them breaching peace and tranquillity. 

The Court said that they showed "habitualness" by calling for protest at de-notified areas. Further, the SEM rejected the sureties produced for Ranka and Das after finding them unfit.

After the two-day period ended today, they were produced before the Court today.

Meanwhile, Das and Ranka had also challenged the SEM court's October 19 order before the Delhi High Court.

However, the writ petition was withdrawn after High Court Justice Subramonium Prasad said that the SEM Court was seized of the matter today and that a more appropriate remedy for them would be a revision plea if they do not get relief from SEM court.

Advocates Abhik Chimni and Pranjal Abrol appeared for Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka before SEM court and High Court.