Magistrate 'threatened' amid Das, Ranka bail hearing, CJP alleges deliberate delay

The development comes amid allegations by the CJP that the magistrate did not hear the bail matter of its two co-convenors on the merits, citing a threatening message he had allegedly received.

In Short

• Delhi Police files report against unknown persons over death threat to magistrate
• CJP alleges that the magistrate did not hear their co-convenors' bail plea on merits
• CJP legal head Ratna Singh says the proceedings were delayed and diverted

Delhi Police has registered a non-cognisable report (NCR) against unknown persons following a complaint by a Special Executive Magistrate (SEM), who alleged that he received a death threat in connection with the proceedings involving Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) co-convenors Ashutosh Ranka and Saurav Das.

The development comes amid allegations by the CJP that the SEM did not hear the bail matter of its two co-convenors on the merits, citing a threatening message he had allegedly received.

CJP has maintained that the alleged threat was unrelated to the proceedings concerning the release of Ranka and Das from judicial custody.

According to the police, a formal complaint was submitted from the SEM's side, following which an NCR was registered against unknown persons for allegedly threatening him. Further details about the complaint and the identity of the person who allegedly sent the threat were not immediately available.

Both Saurav Das and Ranka were initially detained last Tuesday for allegedly trespassing at Jantar Mantar, which was no longer a designated protest site. They were arrested late at night and were produced before a magistrate's court on Wednesday, where they were sent to five days' judicial custody.

CJP ALLEGES BAIL HEARING WAS DELAYED

CJP legal team head Ratna Singh expressed disappointment over the proceedings, alleging that the hearing was repeatedly delayed and that the SEM did not consider the merits of the case before focusing on the alleged threat.

"We have been here since morning. We were told that the entire hearing would take place at 12 pm. Today, everything was complete, the verification was done, and all requirements were met. We have been waiting here since noon," Singh told PTI.

She claimed that the SEM was at the police station by around 1.30 pm but did not enter the courtroom until 5 pm.

"When he finally arrived, he refused to hear our case on its merits regarding whether Saurav and Ashutosh should be released from judicial custody. Instead, he made arbitrary remarks," she alleged.

Singh also questioned the timing of the alleged threat being brought up during the proceedings. According to her, the public prosecutor, who had not appeared at the police station for the preceding four days, was present on Monday.

"Within about five minutes of the proceedings, the SEM told the court that he had received a threatening message. From that point on, the entire discussion revolved solely around that message," she said.

Alleging that the proceedings had been deliberately diverted from the question of the two leaders' release, Singh claimed that the focus shifted entirely to the alleged threat instead of examining whether the necessary formalities had been completed.

"It is clear that this entire episode was orchestrated. They had decided beforehand to come into the courtroom and focus exclusively on this alleged threatening message, completely bypassing whether the formalities required for Saurav and Ashutosh's release were fulfilled," she alleged.

Singh said she was disappointed with the manner in which the proceedings had been handled.

- Ends