Delhi Police register case over threats to magistrate as CJP leaders' bail standoff deepens

Delhi Police on Sunday registered a case against unidentified persons after the Special Executive Magistrate (SEM) at Mandir Marg reported receiving threats in connection with the bail matter of Cockroach Janta Party leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka. The Hindustan Times reported the registration as an FIR; PTI described it as a non-cognisable report against unidentified persons over alleged threats to the magistrate.

The development deepens a day-long standoff over the release of Das and Ranka, as their five-day judicial custody period expires and the matter is listed for further enquiry on October 19. CJP legal head Ratna Singh alleged authorities were deliberately prolonging their detention, saying she had waited at the Mandir Marg police station since 11am for a noon hearing that did not begin, and that four sureties had been rejected on “vague” grounds. Hindustan Times

“This is really concerning. They have rejected 4 sureties till now on vague reasons,” Singh said, claiming protesters with prior protest FIRs were being counted as having criminal antecedents.

Delhi Police denied any deliberate delay, saying the prescribed procedure was being followed and that the surety bonds submitted by the party were faulty. ThePrint

Das and Ranka were detained on October 13 after scaling the locked gates of the de-notified Jantar Mantar protest site to unfurl the national flag, and were remanded to five days’ judicial custody on October 14. The matter is listed for further enquiry on October 19.