CJP lawyer says Saurav Das, Ashutosh Ranka held after Jantar Mantar entry; Delhi Police call it preventive arrest
Ratna Singh, in an update early on Wednesday, said Das, Ranka and Shinde will likely be produced before a special executive magistrate (SEM) before 7 am.
After the Cockroach Janta Party claimed its co-convenors Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka were arrested following the Jantar Mantar breach, the Delhi Police on Wednesday said they had been placed under preventive arrest.
The Delhi Police said they were placing the CJP leaders Das, Ranka and Shinde “under preventive arrest”. (Delhi Police/ANI Video Grab)
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CJP legal affairs head Ratna Singh, in an update earlier, said Das, Ranka and CJP national organisation in-charge Ajinkya Shinde will likely be produced before a special executive magistrate (SEM) at Mandir Marg Police Station .
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The Delhi Police had, on Tuesday evening, filed an FIR against Das, Ranka and Shinde for allegedly trespassing into the Jantar Mantar area without authorisation, PTI news agency cited officials as saying.
What has the CJP said?
While the cops say the leaders are under preventive arrest, CJP's Ratna Singh, in a post on X, said the Delhi Police had arrested Das, Ranka and Shinde in the breach case. “Trespass, bond violation, obstruction of public official’s duty, etc,” Singh said about the charges on them.
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Deep Dive
Why were Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka detained after entering Jantar Mantar?
Delhi Police said CJP leaders entered Jantar Mantar by climbing its locked gates after the site had been de-notified as a designated protest venue. They had gone there to protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
What charges did Delhi Police file against the CJP leaders over the Jantar Mantar breach?
Delhi Police filed an FIR against Saurav Das, Ashutosh Ranka and other CJP members for allegedly trespassing into Jantar Mantar without authorisation. CJP’s legal affairs head also cited alleged charges including trespass, bond violation and obstruction of a public official’s duty.
Were the CJP leaders arrested or placed under preventive arrest?
Delhi Police described the action as a preventive arrest, while CJP’s legal affairs head said the leaders had been arrested in connection with the breach. CJP also claimed they were initially not allowed to meet their lawyers and that their phones had been taken.
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She had also claimed that there was a possibility of “judicial custody in Tihar Jail” after the CJP leaders were presented before the SCM court. “They were not allowed to meet their lawyers till late at night. They were brought to Parliament Street PS at 3 AM in a private van,” Singh claimed. She later also posted a photograph of the three from Parliament Street Police Station. “Despite these illegal actions, their spirits are high,” Singh added.
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She had also claimed that there was a possibility of “judicial custody in Tihar Jail” after the CJP leaders were presented before the SCM court. “They were not allowed to meet their lawyers till late at night. They were brought to Parliament Street PS at 3 AM in a private van,” Singh claimed. She later also posted a photograph of the three from Parliament Street Police Station. “Despite these illegal actions, their spirits are high,” Singh added.
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In the update post, Singh said, “FYI, 24 hours timeline will end soon.”
Why were the CJP leaders detained?
Das, Ranka and Shinde along with other CJP volunteers had entered Jantar Mantar by jumping the locked gates on Tuesday, a day after the site lost its designated protest venue status.
Ranka shared a video of the incident on his X handle, showing Das and him, along with outfit's national organisation in-charge Ajinkya Shinde, climbing the locked gates and entering the venue before police personnel present there intervened and took hold of them. Ranka also displayed the Tricolour at the venue, before Delhi Police detained the CJP leaders.
Saurav Das shared a video on his Instagram handle shortly after detention and said, “We have breached Jantar Mantar.” Ashutosh Ranka said in the video that the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar will happen from Jantar Mantar only, "no matter what".
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Home/India News/CJP lawyer says Saurav Das, Ashutosh Ranka held after Jantar Mantar entry; Delhi Police call it preventive arrest
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