The Delhi Police Crime Branch has summoned Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) co-convenors Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka to record their statements in connection with two cases linked to their protest at Jantar Mantar.
Police sources said CJP member Ajinkya Shinde had also been summoned. The investigation concerns allegations of trespassing and disobedience of orders issued by a public servant.
Das and Ranka have been asked to appear before the Crime Branch at its office in Rajouri Garden at 12 noon on Thursday. The summons comes a day after the two leaders were released from Tihar Jail following a week in judicial custody.
The latest development comes as the Crime Branch investigates two cases linked to the CJP members’ attempt to enter Jantar Mantar and unfurl the national flag during a protest demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
TWO CASES TRANSFERRED TO CRIME BRANCH
The Delhi Police had transferred both cases linked to the October 13 incident to the Crime Branch for further investigation. One case was registered at Connaught Place police station, while the other was registered at Parliament Street police station.
According to the police, Das, Ranka and other CJP members attempted to enter the Jantar Mantar area, which has been denotified as a designated protest site. The group reportedly crossed barricades and entered the area through a private establishment, prompting police personnel to intervene.
The FIR registered at Connaught Place police station includes charges related to disobedience of an order promulgated by a public servant, house trespass and criminal conspiracy under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
The second FIR, registered at Parliament Street police station, concerns allegations of obstruction and assault on public servants, as well as causing hurt to police personnel during the incident.
The transfer of both cases to the specialised unit marked a fresh phase in the investigation into the protest.
RELEASED AFTER SEVEN DAYS IN JUDICIAL CUSTODY
Das and Ranka walked out of Tihar Jail on Wednesday after a Special Executive Magistrate rejected the Delhi Police’s request to extend their judicial custody by three days.
The two leaders had been in custody since October 14, following proceedings initiated over concerns about a breach of peace and the violation of peace bonds they had furnished earlier.
The magistrate ordered their release after they submitted personal bonds and sureties of Rs 50,000 each, along with written undertakings to maintain peace and public tranquillity.
As part of the undertakings, the two agreed not to call for protests at Jantar Mantar while it remains denotified as a protest site. They also undertook to ensure that any future protests remain within the constitutional framework.
The court held that further judicial custody was unnecessary in view of the assurances given by the two leaders. They have been directed to comply with their bonds and undertakings and attend subsequent proceedings.
PROTEST AGAINST CHIEF ELECTION COMMISSIONER
The CJP leaders have been demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the SIR of electoral rolls and the deletion of voters’ names.
The two were initially detained at the Indira Gandhi International Airport on October 10 ahead of a planned protest. They were released after furnishing peace bonds of Rs 50,000 each.
They were detained again on October 14 after the protest at Jantar Mantar, with police initiating further proceedings over the reported breach of those bonds.
The latest summons places Das and Ranka before the Crime Branch as the investigation into the two FIRs proceeds. Further developments are expected as the two leaders appear before the investigating team.
Article source: indiatoday.in
