CJP leaders Saurav Das, Ashutosh Ranka released from Tihar Jail after a week

Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka walked out of Tihar Jail on Wednesday after a Special Executive Magistrate (SEM) ordered their release following written undertakings to maintain peace.

ACP Ritu Raj, acting as the SEM, declined a police request to extend their judicial custody by three days, saying bonds and written assurances could adequately address concerns over a breach of peace.

The two furnished personal bonds and sureties of Rs 50,000 each until the inquiry concludes. Their release came hours after they withdrew a Delhi High Court petition challenging the extension of their custody.

Das and Ranka have been seeking Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR)



of electoral rolls and the deletion of voters’ names.

In separate undertakings, Das and Ranka promised not to breach the peace and affirmed their faith in the judiciary, including the SEM’s court.

They agreed not to call for protests at Jantar Mantar as long as it remains denotified as a protest site. Any protest they undertake would remain within the constitutional framework, they said.

The magistrate held that further judicial custody was unnecessary in view of these assurances. Both leaders must attend every hearing and comply with their bonds and undertakings.

The next hearing is scheduled for October 23 at 3 pm, when the two and their sureties must be present. The investigating officer was directed to submit a verification report on the sureties.