Hans News Service New Delhi

A special executive magistrate (SEM) on Wednesday ordered the release of CJP leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka after the expiry of judicial custody in connection with the October 14 protest at Jantar Mantar.

The two were produced before the SEM, where their sureties were also submitted during the proceedings. Das and Ranka were initially remanded to five days of judicial custody on October 14 after being detained for allegedly entering the denotified protest site of Jantar Mantar and violating peace bonds. Their custody was extended by two days on October 19 and was due to expire on Wednesday.

Earlir, the Delhi High Court refused to interfere with the judicial custody of Cockroach Janta Party leaders, asking them to await the outcome of the hearing scheduled before the Special Executive Magistrate (SEM), and approach the appellate court if their grievance continues.

Justice Subramonium Prasad permitted the CJP co-conveners to withdraw their plea, observing that a writ petition under Article 226 of the Constitution was not an appropriate remedy for a "repeat case" of violating a 'peace' bond.