Saurav Das, Ashutosh Ranka bail hearing: Delhi Police file non-cognisable report over ‘threat’ to magistrate

The Delhi Police have registered a non-cognisable report against unidentified persons for allegedly threatening a Special Executive Magistrate in connection with the bail hearing of Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka.

A non-cognisable report generally concerns offences in which the police cannot arrest an accused without a warrant or investigate without the permission of a magistrate, as prescribed by law.

The development comes amid allegations by the CJP that the release of the two leaders is being delayed on “vague grounds”.

Das and Ranka were remanded to five days of judicial custody on October 14 after being arrested for entering Jantar Mantar, which had been denotified as a designated protest site, by jumping over its locked gates.

CJP legal team head Ratna Singh alleged on Sunday that the duo’s bail hearing was delayed because the Special Executive Magistrate (SEM) did not arrive at the scheduled time. Singh said she had been at the police station since 11 am for the hearing, scheduled for noon, but the Assistant Commissioner of Police, who also functions as the SEM, had not arrived by 4.42 pm.

She also alleged that four sureties submitted in support of the bail applications had been rejected on “vague” grounds.

“This is really concerning. They have rejected 4 sureties till now on vague reasons. They have made people who have FIRs against them for being part of protest as people having criminal antecedents (sic),” Singh wrote in a social media post.

In a separate post, Singh questioned the functioning of SEM courts in the national capital, alleging an “absolute misuse of power” and noting that higher courts had directed authorities to follow the prescribed hierarchy.

On Saturday, the CJP said it had consulted senior advocate Kapil Sibal and warned of legal action if Das and Ranka were not released by Sunday.

“If Ashu and Saurav are not released by tomorrow, we will pursue legal action against all those who deliberately ensured that they continue to be in illegal custody, especially when they have not committed nor charged with any offence,” the outfit said.