New Delhi: The bail hearing for Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka faced delays on Sunday as the Special Executive Magistrate (SEM) failed to arrive at the scheduled time, activist Ratna Singh stated, alleging that four sureties were rejected on “vague” grounds.

Das and Ranka were remanded in five days' judicial custody on October 14 after entering Jantar Mantar, which has been denotified as a designated protest site, by scaling its locked gates. The CJP leaders maintained that they entered the premises to unfurl the national flag and raise slogans.

Singh stated that she had been present at the police station from 11 am for a hearing scheduled at noon. However, she noted that the Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP/SEM) had still not arrived at the Mandir Marg police station by 4.42 pm.
 

“This is really concerning. They have rejected 4 sureties till now on vague reasons. They have made people who have FIRs against them for being part of protest as people having criminal antecedents (sic),” Singh alleged.

Law enforcement authorities offered no official response regarding the allegations.

In an X post, Singh added, "Unfurling the Indian National Flag is not a crime, and the boys should not remain in custody due to procedural delays.” She further questioned the functioning of SEM courts across the national capital, referencing higher court directives on administrative hierarchy and alleging an “absolute misuse of power”.
 

On Saturday, the CJP issued a statement on X confirming consultation with senior advocate Kapil Sibal and warning of legal recourse if Das and Ranka were not released by Sunday.
 

“If Ashu and Saurav are not released by tomorrow, we will pursue legal action against all those who deliberately ensured that they continue to be in illegal custody, especially when they have not committed nor charged with any offence," the organisation stated.

“The deliberate use of delaying tactics to keep them behind bars cannot go unchallenged. Those responsible will be held accountable,” it added.

The political outfit has been demonstrating against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, alleging that the exercise undermines voters' rights.

PTI