CJP Leaders Seek Urgent Hearing in Delhi High Court Over Custody Extension
Bdbusinessdaily.com – CJP leaders seek urgent hearing in the Delhi High Court after the judicial custody of co-convenors Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka was extended by two days. Their legal team sought an emergency night hearing on 20 October, during the court’s Dussehra vacation, arguing that the custody dispute requires immediate consideration.
The application followed an order issued on Monday by a newly appointed Special Executive Magistrate at Mandir Marg Police Station. Das and Ranka were produced before the magistrate, who ordered that they remain in judicial remand for an additional two days.
Party challenges continued detention
CJP has challenged the extension of custody and says the matter concerns the personal liberty of its two leaders. The party’s legal affairs head, Ratna Singh, said lawyers had approached the High Court because the issue should not wait until regular court sittings resume.
“We have moved the Delhi High Court and requested an urgent night hearing. Saurav and Ashutosh should not spend a single minute behind bars. Their liberty must not be curtailed because of political games. Justice must not wait,” Ratna Singh wrote in a post on X.
The party has also alleged that bail-related proceedings were delayed in a way that prevented Das and Ranka from securing release. Its court move seeks an urgent review of the latest remand order rather than a final ruling on the allegations arising from the protest.
Judicial custody means an accused person is held under the authority of a court instead of remaining in police custody. Lawyers may request hearings during court recesses when they believe a case cannot reasonably wait for normal proceedings to resume.
Detention followed Jantar Mantar protest
Das and Ranka were detained on 13 October after they allegedly crossed a locked gate to enter Jantar Mantar. The site had been denotified as a designated venue for demonstrations.
Following their detention, the two co-convenors were sent to judicial custody for five days. The subsequent two-day extension prompted CJP leaders to seek urgent hearing before the Delhi High Court during the vacation period.
Before being detained, Das and Ranka joined other CJP workers at Jantar Mantar, where they displayed the national flag and raised slogans aimed at Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The protest concerned allegations of manipulation involving electoral rolls.
The party workers entered the venue despite its status as a location no longer designated for protests. They were then detained and placed under preventive arrest, turning a political protest into a dispute over remand, bail and access to judicial review.
High Court request focuses on timing and liberty
For CJP, the immediate question is whether the custody extension should receive urgent judicial scrutiny. The party argues that Das and Ranka should not remain in jail because of procedural delays while the court is on holiday break.
The request for a night hearing highlights the urgency claimed by the leaders’ legal team. If the Delhi High Court takes up the matter, it may consider the latest judicial remand order and the party’s complaint that release proceedings have not moved quickly enough.
The case now brings together questions about protest activity, entry into Jantar Mantar, preventive detention and the legal basis for extending custody. Whether the High Court grants an urgent hearing will determine if the issue is addressed during the vacation or through the regular court process.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did CJP approach the Delhi High Court?
CJP approached the Delhi High Court to challenge the two-day extension of judicial custody for co-convenors Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka and to request an urgent hearing during the Dussehra vacation.
Why were Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka detained?
They were detained on 13 October after allegedly crossing a locked gate to enter Jantar Mantar, which had been denotified as a designated site for demonstrations.
What does the custody extension mean?
The extension means Das and Ranka were ordered to remain in judicial remand for two more days after an earlier five-day period of judicial custody.
