Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka were granted bail after seven days of judicial custody. This comes after the duo were produced before a Special Executive Magistrate (SEM) on Wednesday. A Special Executive Magistrate's court passed the release order, accepting their written assurances to maintain peace and comply with the law. However, their release from Tihar Jail is unlikely today due to pending paperwork. Delhi Police had sought a three-day extension of judicial custody of Das and Ranka, however, the court ordered the release of the duo. 
The two were taken into custody by Parliament Street police on October 14 over apprehensions of a breach of peace. Their judicial custody was initially fixed at five days and subsequently extended by another two days on October 19.
Court says written assurance and bonds are sufficient
During Wednesday's hearing, the police sought a further three-day extension of the duo's judicial custody. However, the court held that requiring them to furnish bonds and provide written undertakings would be sufficient to maintain peace under the prevailing circumstances. The magistrate said there was no need to keep the two leaders in jail if they gave assurances that they would not disturb public order.
Das and Ranka submitted written undertakings before the court, promising not to breach the peace and to maintain law and order. They also assured the magistrate that they would not call for a protest at Jantar Mantar until permission was granted in accordance with the law. The two further undertook to ensure that any future demonstration would be conducted within the framework of the Constitution.
Rs 50,000 personal bonds, surety bonds imposed
The court directed both leaders to furnish personal bonds of Rs 50,000 each, along with surety bonds of an equal amount. After the required bond and bail formalities were completed, the magistrate ordered their release. The superintendent of Tihar Jail was directed to issue the release warrants. The court also instructed Das and Ranka to appear at the next hearing and comply with the conditions imposed to maintain peace and public order.
Next hearing on October 23
The matter is scheduled to be heard again on October 23, 2026, at 3 pm. The release order follows a week in custody, during which the court had extended the leaders' detention. Their release is subject to completion of the prescribed bond formalities and compliance with the assurances submitted before the magistrate, the order stated. 
Why were Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka detained?
Das and Ranka were detained along with other CJP workers on October 13 after allegedly entering Jantar Mantar, which had been denotified as a protest site. The group displayed the national flag and raised slogans against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar before the police took action. The two leaders were placed under preventive arrest over the alleged violation of peace bonds. A SEM subsequently ordered their judicial custody for five days on October 14.