These days, there is a huge uproar in the political and social circles of the country's capital Delhi regarding the arrest and extension of custody of the leaders of Cockroach Janata Party (CJP). The judicial custody of CJP co-convenors Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka, who were arrested for protesting at Jantar Mantar without prior permission and entering the premises and hoisting the tricolor flag, has been extended by a Delhi court. As soon as this court decision and administrative delay came to light, CJP founder and chief Abhijeet Dipke got angry. Directly targeting the working style of the government and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he has made a scathing attack on social media and media. Expressing anger, Abhijit Dipke asked whether the youth were being shown their power by keeping them in jail unnecessarily or any action was being taken out of political vendetta. What is the whole matter and why was there an increase in custody? The background of this entire controversy is related to the recent protests at Jantar Mantar. Despite the Jantar Mantar complex being recently removed from the list of protest sites, Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka had allegedly crossed the closed gate and entered inside. There they displayed the tricolor and raised slogans regarding their demands. Delhi Police detained both the leaders around October 13-14 on charges of disturbing peace and violating government orders and then sent them to judicial custody for five days. When both the leaders were produced in the court after the expiry of the five-day custody period, the police further extended the judicial custody citing further investigation and paper procedures. Angered by this administrative and legal delay, CJP's legal team and leaders called it a deliberate action. Abhijeet Dipke's sharp attack and raised big questions on 'Modi ji' While reacting to the court extending the period of judicial custody and the difficulties being faced in bail procedures, Abhijeet Dipke raised serious questions on the intentions of the government. He said in a sharp tone that no weapon or illegal thing has been found from our young comrades, they just raised their voice and waved the tricolor. Has expressing one's views become such a big crime in a democracy that youth are being made to languish behind bars for many days without any solid legal basis? Deepke sarcastically asked whether an attempt is being made to suppress the voice of the youth by keeping them in jail? He alleged that the Special Executive Magistrate (SEM) and the government parties were deliberately adopting tactics to buy time and delay the paper process so as to create unnecessary hurdles in the release of our leaders. Serious allegations by CJP's legal team and developments in the courtroom. CJP's Legal Head Ratna Singh also expressed huge dissatisfaction over the attitude of the police and administration in this entire matter. Speaking to the media, he revealed that all the necessary documents, verification of sureties and conditions demanded by the court were completed on time. But despite this, the hearing was continuously delayed and took unnecessary time. CJP claims that legal tricks and technical tricks are being deliberately used to keep their leaders in jail. Extending the period of judicial custody even when no solid legal basis existed clearly reflected political pressure and abuse of the administrative machinery. Abhijit Dipke has made it clear that his party is not at all afraid or bowing down to such repressive steps. He said that the morale of their leaders is completely high and they will come out of jail smiling. The CJP has now made a strategy to take the case to the High Court and further strengthen the legal fight with senior lawyers. After this incident in the capital, a new national debate has started regarding democratic rights, freedom of protest and use of custody. There is every possibility that the legal and political war regarding the release of Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka will intensify in the coming days.
