NEW DELHI, October 21, 2026 : In a significant development in the Jantar Mantar protest case, a Special Executive Magistrate (SEM) on Wednesday ordered the release of CJP leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka following the expiry of their judicial custody.
The two leaders were produced before the SEM, where their sureties were also submitted during the proceedings. Their release followed a series of custody extensions linked to the protest held at Jantar Mantar on October 14.
CUSTODY EXTENDED BEFORE RELEASE ORDER
Das and Ranka were initially remanded to five days of judicial custody on October 14 after being detained over allegations that they entered the denotified protest site at Jantar Mantar and violated peace bonds.
Their custody was subsequently extended by two days on October 19 and was scheduled to expire on Wednesday, October 21.
Following the expiry of the custody period, the SEM ordered their release after the proceedings, including the submission of sureties.
DELHI HIGH COURT DECLINES TO INTERVENE
Earlier on Wednesday, the Delhi High Court declined to interfere with the judicial custody of the two CJP leaders.
The High Court asked them to await the decision of the SEM and indicated that they could approach the appellate court if their grievance remained unresolved.
The matter subsequently proceeded before the SEM, which issued the release order after the custody period ended.
JANTAR MANTAR PROTEST CASE
The case stems from the October 14 protest at Jantar Mantar, a prominent location in New Delhi used for demonstrations and public gatherings.
The detention of the two CJP leaders and the subsequent extensions of their custody had become part of the legal proceedings surrounding the protest.
The allegations concerning entry into the denotified protest site and violations of peace bonds remain central to the case as described by the authorities.
LEGAL DEVELOPMENTS AND NEXT STEPS
The SEM’s order marks the end of the immediate custody episode for Das and Ranka. Their release follows the expiry of the remand period and the submission of sureties during the proceedings.
The development also highlights the separate roles of the magistrate’s proceedings and the High Court’s decision not to intervene at that stage.
Further legal developments, if any, will depend on the subsequent proceedings and decisions by the competent authorities.
The key development on October 21 is the SEM’s order directing the release of CJP leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka after their custody period expired.
