CJP leaders sent to judicial custody over Jantar Mantar incident.

Delhi's Special Executive Magistrate on Wednesday remanded Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka to five days of judicial custody for allegedly trespassing at Jantar Mantar yesterday by crossing police barricades and entering the area after it was no denotifies as a protest site.

The two, along with party member Ajinkya Shinde, were put under preventive detention yesterday.

They were produced before a Special Executive magistrate (SEM) at Mandir Marg in Delhi on Wednesday morning. While Das and Ranka were remanded to judicial custody, Shinde was released on a personal bond, according to the party's legal team.

The case arises from an incident in which the party members allegedly crossed barricades and entered the Jantar Mantar area, raising slogans and holding the national flag. The police action followed the removal of Jantar Mantar from the list of designated protest venues.

Yesterday, ANI reported that the Delhi Police has registered a case against the three and various others on allegations of trespassing, forming an unlawful assembly, and disobeying an order promulgated by a public servant.

Police Allege Violation Of Peace Bond

According to Delhi Police, Das and Ranka had previously executed bonds undertaking to maintain peace and good behaviour for one year after being detained during an earlier protest.

The police alleged that the two had again violated the restrictions applicable in the area and breached the conditions of their bonds. They were consequently treated as repeat offenders and produced before the magistrate.

The earlier bonds were furnished after the two were detained on October 10. They were reportedly released after furnishing surety bonds of ₹50,000 each and undertaking to maintain peace and good behaviour for one year.

A peace bond is an undertaking to maintain peace and good behaviour for a specified period. Alleged breach of such conditions may lead to further proceedings before the competent authority or court.

Advocate Abhisht Hela, appearing for Das, Ranka and Shinde, however, questioned the grounds on which the two leaders had been sent to judicial custody.

He alleged that the police had relied on an apprehension that the activists might commit an offence and disputed the claim that they had violated the conditions of their bonds.

The lawyer also disputed the police's claim that the activists had issued a call asking people to assemble at the protest site. He further alleged that a separate complaint relating to Connaught Place had been used in the present matter.

The incident took place amid changes to the designated venues for protests in Delhi.

On October 11, Delhi Police Commissioner Anurag Kumar issued an order identifying Ramlila Maidan, Burari Ground and CBD Ground as designated venues for protests and demonstrations. Jantar Mantar was removed from the list of approved protest sites.

The police subsequently detained the CJP members after they allegedly crossed barricades and entered the area.

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