Delhi court releases CJP's Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka after days in custody

Their release came hours after the two withdrew a petition before the Delhi High Court challenging an order extending their custody.

The protest had been planned for October 14 as part of their campaign against the Chief Election Commissioner.

HC questions legal challenge

Earlier on Wednesday, Justice Subramonium Prasad questioned why Das and Ranka had approached the Delhi High Court without first pursuing alternative legal remedies.

The judge suggested that they wait for the proceedings before the SEM later in the day before deciding on their next legal step.

“Would it not be better for you to withdraw this, see what happens at 2 PM and then follow the course of law,” the judge said.

The High Court permitted the petitioners to withdraw their plea without expressing any view on its merits.

Lawyer challenges custody extension

Advocate Abhik Chimni, representing Das and Ranka, argued that the SEM’s October 19 order extending their custody by two days failed to adequately explain the immediate threat the two men allegedly posed.

He also questioned the repeated rejection of their sureties, describing the decisions as arbitrary, and sought their release on personal bonds.

The High Court observed that statutory remedies under the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) were available to challenge the decisions.

During the hearing, the bench also considered allegations that the two leaders had breached their peace bonds by attempting to stage a protest at Jantar Mantar, which had been denotified as a protest site.

The court noted that the notification had been challenged before the Supreme Court but had not been stayed.

Detentions follow planned Jantar Mantar protest

Das and Ranka were first detained at an airport on October 10, ahead of planned demonstrations against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

Authorities initiated proceedings against them under Sections 126 and 170 of the BNSS. Both were released on the same day after furnishing peace bonds of Rs 50,000.

They were apprehended again on October 14 after attempting to hold the protest at Jantar Mantar.

In her October 19 order, SEM Ritu Raj said the two leaders had deliberately violated the conditions of their peace bonds.

She also directed them to furnish fresh sureties after identifying discrepancies in the documents they submitted and finding their responses during the inquiry unsatisfactory.

Their subsequent release followed Wednesday’s proceedings before the SEM, after they withdrew their High Court challenge.