Delhi court orders release of CJP leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka

TNS, Oct 21, 2026, New Delhi : Delhi High Court rejects challenge to custody extension; duo withdraws plea before appearing before SEM court, which orders release after written apology and affidavit are submitted.

Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka were released on Wednesday after spending seven days in judicial custody over their alleged breach of a peace bond while trying to stage a protest at Jantar Mantar.

The Special Executive Magistrate (SEM) ordered their release after the two signed and submitted a written apology and an affidavit. The proceedings before the SEM lasted an hour and a half.

Written apology, affidavit pave way for release

At the SEM hearing, the court ordered the release of the two leaders after they signed and submitted a written apology and an affidavit.

The two had earlier faced two unsuccessful bail attempts before the SEM. Wednesday was their third appearance before the court.

After his release, Das said: "Truth has triumphed."

Reacting to the release, CJP national secretary Aafreen Nawaz said the two leaders had demonstrated resilience during a difficult period.

"The two leaders have set an example of how to be resilient in times of difficulties. They always had hope in democracy, and ultimately, amid all the false allegations, they have been released," she said.

The release came after a day of legal developments that began with the duo seeking an urgent hearing before the Delhi High Court on their petition challenging their judicial custody. The Delhi High Court agreed to hear the matter but did not grant them relief. The petition was subsequently withdrawn before the two appeared before the SEM, where their release was eventually ordered.

CJP legal head Ratna Singh welcomed the court’s decision, saying it should have come earlier. “We welcome the decision. I think this should have come much earlier, but it is still not too late,” she said.

On the High Court’s observations, she said they were the court’s opinion and did not warrant further comment.

She added that CJP’s lawyers had argued that there was no call for any further protest and that custody could not be extended merely on an assumption of a future protest; however, the police demanded five days of judicial custody on grounds of 'imminent threat'.

Das and Ranka have been in custody since October 14, when they were apprehended for allegedly entering Jantar Mantar and unfurling the national flag as part of protests against the Chief Election Commissioner, in breach of orders.

The two had earlier been apprehended at an airport on October 10, ahead of protests announced in Delhi against the Chief Election Commissioner. They were subjected to preventive proceedings under Sections 126 and 170 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita.

They were released on October 11 after being required to furnish peace bonds of Rs 50,000 each. However, they were apprehended again on October 14 on the grounds that they had breached the bonds by trying to stage a protest at Jantar Mantar on October 13.

The two were then produced before Executive Magistrate Mahesh Kumar Meena on October 14 and remanded to five days of judicial custody. The matter was listed for further proceedings on October 19, when their judicial custody was extended by two days.

In its October 19 order, Special Executive Magistrate Ritu Raj observed that the respondents had deliberately breached their bonds and had immediately committed a breach of peace.

HC flags consequences of breaking barricades

On Wednesday, Das and Ranka approached the Delhi High Court seeking an urgent hearing of their challenge to the extension of their judicial custody. The court agreed to hear the matter but ultimately rejected the plea.

During the hearing, the High Court focused on the alleged breach of the peace bond and the possible consequences of actions by those leading protests.

"You are at the forefront (of the protest). When you break barricades, there are chances that more people may follow. There might be persons who may not be under your control," the court observed.

The court also referred to protests in other countries that had escalated into violence, though it did not name any particular country.

"We have seen it happen outside our country. What started as student protests turned into something with arson and burning of buildings," the court said.

The High Court's observations came in the context of the allegation that the two had violated the undertaking given through their peace bonds by trying to enter Jantar Mantar despite restrictions.

The petition challenging their judicial custody was later withdrawn, following which the two appeared before the SEM for further proceedings.