CJP's Saurav Das, Ashutosh Ranka withdraw plea challenging custody in Delhi HC

Delhi high court on Sourav Das, Ashutosh Ranka's plea

NEW DELHI: Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) members Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka on Wednesday withdrew their plea before the Delhi high court challenging the extension of their custody and seeking immediate release.The development came after the court questioned why they had approached it when proceedings before the Special Executive Magistrate (SEM) were scheduled to take place later in the day.The court advised them to wait for the outcome of the SEM proceedings and consider the available legal remedies.

The activists had challenged the SEM’s October 19 order extending their custody until October 21 under preventive proceedings initiated under Sections 126 and 170 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS).They had argued that their continued detention was illegal and violated their right to personal liberty, claiming they had remained in custody since October 13 despite furnishing sureties for release.The case stems from their protest at Jantar Mantar on October 13, after the site was denotified as a designated protest venue.