Cockroach Janta Party leaders released from Tihar Jail after judicial custody ends

Release From Jail

Cockroach Janta Party leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka walked out of Tihar Jail on October 21 after their judicial custody ended. The Special Executive Magistrate ordered their release following days of legal battles. Upon coming out, both leaders held the national flag and repeated their call for the exit of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged flaws in electoral rolls. Party founder Abhijeet Dipke praised the two men as much bigger leaders than himself and stated he was happy to follow their instructions.

Legal Arguments

CJP legal head Ratna Singh stated the court order should have happened much sooner. Police had asked for a five-day extension of custody due to an assumed ongoing threat, but defence lawyers argued there was no active danger or new protest call. The magistrate accepted this defence argument. Earlier, the Delhi High Court declined to interfere with the custody, telling the party to wait for the local magistrate's decision. Mr. Das and Mr. Ranka were first detained on October 14 after entering the locked Jantar Mantar site, which had lost its official protest venue status on October 11.

Context

Jantar Mantar has long served as a central spot for public demonstrations in the national capital before recent administrative changes restricted access. Legal disputes over protest permissions often involve complex balances between public order and free expression rights under the law. Bail and custody extension hearings frequently turn on technical requirements like the validity of surety documents submitted for release.