CJP leaders seek additional time to appear before police for questioning - New Delhi - A day after being released from judicial custody, Cockroach Janta Party leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka failed to appear before Delhi Police Crime Branch for questioning on Thursday and sought additional time to join investigation, police sources said.
Investigation pertains to allegations of trespassing into Jantar Mantar after it was denotified as protest site, obstructing police personnel on duty, disobedience of government order among others. Crime Branch issued notices to duo on Wednesday following their release from seven days of judicial custody, directing them to appear for questioning on Thursday.
Read more - Delhi Police Kills Jantar Mantar
Meanwhile, counsel for All India Students Association leader Neha Bora argued before Delhi High Court that there was nothing wrong with seeking regime change in democracy. Court was hearing plea against notice asking her to furnish bond before special executive magistrate for maintaining peace. The AlSA president was taken into preventive detention on October 16 on her way to join CJP's Lehara Do Tiranga march. She was released October 17. After hearing arguments, High Court that there was nothing wrong with seeking regime change in a democracy. Court was hearing plea against notice asking her to furnish bond before special executive magistrate for maintaining peace.
The AISA president was taken into preventive detention on October 16 on her way to join CJP's Lehara Do Tiranga march. She was released October 17. After hearing arguments statement on regime change was made. Responding to submission, senior advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan, appearing for student leader, said there is nothing wrong in regime change in democracy. Objecting to argument, ASG said a regime change in democracy will happen by votes, not by lumpen elements congregating in New Delhi. Mr Sankaranarayanan, though, argued that special executive magistrate (SEM) had issued notice to act without applying independent judgment. Referring to police's allegation that AISA leader had hoisted national flag without permission, he maintained citizens were not required to seek official approval to do so. ASG however submitted sufficient material available before SEM when notice was issued. Plea's maintainability - Additional Solicitor-General Chetan Sharma appearing for Delhi Police questione maintainability of student leader's petition andmaintainability of student leader's petition and referred to certain material, including joint press conference at which statement on regime change was made.
Read more - The Ear That Paid For Protest
Analytically, CJP case shows criminalisation of protest - trespassing into own capital's designated protest site now crime after denotification. Seeking bond for maintaining peace for hoisting flag inverts law - peace bond meant for violence, not patriotism. If regime change by votes only, as ASG says, then SIR which affects voting itself becomes central - cannot have fair votes if rolls flawed.
For CJP, additional time is tactical - Supreme Court hearing ghost orders on same day may make Crime Branch case weaker.
Tags: #CJP #SauravDas #AshutoshRanka #JantarMantar #CrimeBranch #AISA #NehaBora #RegimeChange #DelhiPolice #PreventiveDetention