NEW DELHI, Oct 11: A Delhi court on Sunday ordered the release of Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) leaders Abhijit Dipke, Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka following their preventive detention ahead of a protest demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
CJP legal affairs head Ratna Singh said their release was conditional on the three leaders not engaging in any breach of peace for one year. Their counsel, advocate Soutik Banerjee, also confirmed their release, saying they were free to leave.
Delhi Police detained the leaders shortly after their flight landed in the national capital on October 10. They were subsequently produced before the Court of Special Executive Magistrate, South West District, at Delhi Cantonment Police Station.
Police invoked Sections 126 and 170 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS). Section 126 provides for preventive action to maintain peace, while Section 170 empowers police to make arrests in specified circumstances to prevent cognisable offences.
The detentions came ahead of a CJP-led protest at Jantar Mantar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and demands for Kumar’s resignation.
According to reports citing Delhi Police, thousands of protesters were detained across the capital on Saturday amid heightened security and restrictions on demonstrations.
The police action has also prompted legal challenges, with the Supreme Court scheduled to hear petitions concerning the detentions and restrictions on public transport during the protests.
Meanwhile, a Delhi court dismissed a plea filed by Singh seeking an FIR against police personnel over her alleged illegal detention and requesting her immediate release.
