Saurav Das, Ashutosh Ranka have no respect for law, can breach peace and tranquility: Delhi SEM court

A Special Executive Magistrate (SEM) court on Monday said that Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) activists Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka's conduct shows that they have no respect for the law and that there are serious concerns about them breaching peace and tranquillity.

SEM Ritu Raj said that their assurance that they would not repeat the alleged conduct did not inspire confidence in light of their previous actions.

The Court said that they showed "habitualness" by calling for protest at de-notified areas.

Therefore, the Court extended their judicial custody by two days.

"The application filed by IO [Investigating Officer] 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 Court said.

Further, the SEM also rejected the sureties produced for Ranka and Das after finding them unfit.

It noted a mismatch between the photograph on one of the sureties' bond and his Aadhaar card.

The Court said that he [the surety] failed to produce another valid identity document and gave unsatisfactory answers.

Meanwhile, according to the Court, the other surety could not provide basic details of Saurav Das. The court also found that neither surety could ensure the respondents’ presence before it.

"The inquiry conducted revealed that both the Sureties has no control over the Respondents to produce them before the Court, which is primary essence of keeping Surety. No other Surety present at present. In such a situation, respondents are directed to furnish fresh Sureties," the Court recorded in its order.

It has now listed the case for further consideration on October 21.

Das and Ranka were detained by the Delhi Police on October 13 after they allegedly entered the barricaded Jantar Mantar site by climbing its gates.

On October 14, they were sent to judicial custody for five days. As the custody ended today, they were produced before the SEM. The Delhi Police sought an extension of the custody.

The same was allowed and the custody was extended by two more days.

The CJP has been protesting alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

When Das and Ranka were produced before SEM today, the police told the court that they had breached an undertaking given before the SEM on October 11.

It was stated that they called upon the public to assemble at Jantar Mantar, which has been de-notified as a protest site. The police further alleged that Das and Ranka repeatedly used social media to mobilise people for protests at non-designated locations, including Jantar Mantar and Connaught Place.

The police officials also referred to an anonymous allegedly threatening WhatsApp communication received by the predecessor court, stating that a separate daily diary entry had been registered in connection with it.

Opposing further detention, counsel for the respondents argued that they should be released immediately and assured the court that they would not repeat the alleged conduct.

They also disputed the allegation that they had issued calls for protests after October 10.