CJP News: The two leaders were arrested for entering Jantar Mantar, recently denotified as a protest site, by scaling its locked gates. They were detained on October 13 and sent to five days of judicial custody on October 14.
How the Bail Hearing Got Stalled
The hearing was delayed on Sunday after the Special Executive Magistrate (SEM) allegedly failed to arrive on time, according to CJP legal head Ratna Singh. She also alleged that four sureties were rejected on “vague” grounds. Singh said she was at the police station from 11 am for a noon hearing, but the magistrate had not arrived by 4.42 pm.
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Threat to the Magistrate
Delhi Police registered a non-cognisable report on Sunday against unidentified persons for allegedly threatening the magistrate. Singh said the magistrate told the party’s lawyers that someone had sent him a threatening message. Police did not respond to the party’s allegations, and details of the threat are not yet known.
What Can Abhijeet Dipke Do Now?
The party’s options so far appear to be legal and political.
- Legal route: The CJP says it consulted senior advocate Kapil Sibal and warned of legal action if the two were not released by Sunday. If the delay continues, the party could approach a higher court, though it has not announced any such step.
- Public pressure: Dipke has accused the state of deliberately prolonging the “illegal arrest” and promised that those responsible will be held accountable.
- Continued protests: The party is protesting against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls. Dipke has vowed to keep up the fight.
What to Watch Next
The next hearing will show whether the sureties are accepted. The police have not yet answered the delay allegations, so the threat report will also draw attention. Until then, Das and Ranka stay in judicial custody.
