NEW DELHI – Barely a day after walking out of judicial custody, CJP leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka faced fresh legal trouble on Thursday when the Delhi Police Crime Branch summoned them for questioning.
The two leaders sought more time to appear before investigators and skipped Thursday’s scheduled questioning. Police sources said fresh notices will likely be issued soon to direct the duo to join the ongoing probe.
The Crime Branch recently took over separate cases registered against Das and Ranka following an October 13 demonstration at Jantar Mantar. The charges stem from allegations of trespassing, crossing police barricades and obstructing public servants during the unauthorized protest at the site, which remains denotified.
Das and Ranka secured their release on Wednesday after a special executive magistrate accepted written undertakings from them to maintain public peace. As part of their release conditions, the leaders furnished personal and surety bonds of Rs 50,000 each and pledged not to call for any further protests at Jantar Mantar until the location is legally re-notified.
The political figures were initially detained on October 14 and sent to five days of judicial custody. A local court extended that detention by another two days on October 19 before their custody expired mid-week.
