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Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) leaders Abhijeet Dipke, Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka (Img: X)
New Delhi: The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) has warned of legal action against authorities if its co-convenors Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka are not released from custody, alleging that procedural delays are being used to prolong their detention. The warning came on Sunday, a day after CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke was granted conditional bail following his detention during a protest in Delhi against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
Dipke was released on Saturday after furnishing an undertaking to maintain peace for one year. All India Students' Association (AISA) national president Neha Bora, who was detained alongside him on Friday, was also released after remaining in custody overnight.
The developments followed the CJP's 'Lehra Do Tiranga' march in the national capital, organised to demand Kumar's resignation over alleged irregularities in the revision of electoral rolls
In a post on social media, the CJP said it had consulted senior advocate Kapil Sibal and would pursue legal remedies if Das and Ranka were not released on Sunday. The party alleged that the two leaders were being kept in custody through deliberate procedural delays despite, according to its claim, neither having committed nor been charged with an offence.
The party also said those responsible for the continued detention would be held accountable. These are allegations made by the CJP; the authorities' position and the outcome of any proposed legal proceedings would determine the issue.
Das and Ranka were arrested earlier in the week after allegedly entering Jantar Mantar by crossing a locked gate, despite the venue having been denotified as a designated protest site. They had displayed the national flag during the demonstration.
While CJP national organisation in-charge Ajinkya Shinde and 11 other participants were released, Das and Ranka were placed under preventive action and remanded to five days of judicial custody.
Dipke was detained on Friday while on his way to participate in the march near Connaught Place. He was subsequently produced before a Special Executive Magistrate and released on Saturday, subject to conditions requiring him to maintain peace and tranquillity for a year.
The CJP founder's release came after nearly a day in custody. The detention had triggered criticism from the party and opposition leaders, who questioned the police action and called for the release of those detained during the protest.
Bora was detained on Friday while attempting to join the demonstration from the Mandi House area. She was released early Saturday morning following the completion of the relevant procedures under the Delhi Police Act.
Delhi Police have registered multiple FIRs in connection with Friday's protest, alleging violations of prohibitory orders and obstruction of public servants. The cases name Dipke, Bora and others, according to media reports.
More than 100 people were detained as protesters gathered around Connaught Place for the march. Police dispersed the gathering, citing restrictions on demonstrations and concerns about traffic congestion and public order in the commercial district.
Authorities have also initiated action against social media accounts allegedly circulating misleading or fabricated material connected with the demonstrations. Police are examining the online content as part of their investigation.
The demonstrations are part of a wider campaign by the CJP, student organisations and opposition parties questioning the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. Protesters have alleged that the exercise has resulted in the removal of a large number of voters and demanded accountability from the Election Commission.
The Election Commission has denied allegations of political bias, maintaining that voters whose names have been wrongly deleted can seek their inclusion in the electoral rolls.
With the CJP now threatening legal action over the custody of Das and Ranka, the developments are likely to keep the dispute over protest restrictions, preventive detention and electoral-roll revision in focus.
