The detention of Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka ended on Wednesday after a Special Executive Magistrate (SEM) ordered their release, subject to written assurances on maintaining public order and complying with restrictions on protests at Jantar Mantar.

The two leaders were produced before the magistrate as their judicial custody was set to expire. They furnished personal bonds and sureties of Rs 50,000 each, fulfilling the conditions laid down by the court.

The release came hours after Das and Ranka withdrew their petition in the Delhi High Court challenging the extension of their custody. Their detention had initially been ordered for five days before being extended by another two days on October 19.

CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke reacted to the development on X by sharing a meme featuring Shah Rukh Khan in a teary-eyed scene from Chak De! India.

Release subject to written undertakings

As part of the release order, both leaders gave written assurances that they would not disturb public peace or engage in activities that could lead to a breach of law and order.

They also undertook not to call for demonstrations at Jantar Mantar until the site is formally de-notified in accordance with the law. Any future protest, they assured the magistrate, would remain within constitutional limits.

The magistrate directed that the undertakings be retained on record. Das and Ranka must also attend all scheduled hearings and comply with the conditions attached to their bonds.

The proceedings stem from the leaders’ campaign seeking the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. They have accused the Election Commission of irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, particularly over the deletion of voters’ names.

Why the leaders withdrew their High Court plea

Before the release order was passed, the Delhi High Court heard the challenge to the extension of their custody. Justice Subramonium Prasad questioned whether the petitioners had approached the court before exhausting other available legal remedies.

The judge suggested that the leaders wait for the magistrate’s decision before deciding their next legal step, asking whether withdrawing the petition and observing the outcome of the afternoon hearing would be a more appropriate course.

Their counsel, Abhik Chimni, argued that the October 19 custody-extension order did not sufficiently establish why the two men posed an immediate threat. He also questioned the repeated rejection of their proposed sureties and sought their release on personal bonds.

The High Court referred to alternative remedies available under the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) and permitted the petition to be withdrawn. It did not rule on the merits of the custody challenge.

From airport detention to Jantar Mantar arrest

The case began on October 10, when Das and Ranka were detained at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport ahead of planned demonstrations against the Chief Election Commissioner.

Proceedings were initiated against them under Sections 126 and 170 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita. They were released the same day after furnishing peace bonds of Rs 50,000 each.

Four days later, the two were apprehended again during their Tiranga march after allegedly entering Jantar Mantar, where protests were restricted following the site’s de-notification.

In an order issued on October 19, Special Executive Magistrate Ritu Raj held that the leaders had deliberately violated the earlier bonds and extended their custody by two days. The magistrate also raised concerns about discrepancies in the surety documents and the explanations provided during the inquiry.

Their release on Wednesday brings the latest period of custody to an end, but the conditions imposed by the magistrate require both leaders to observe the stipulated restrictions and appear for future proceedings.