Delhi High Court grilled jailed Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka on Wednesday over alleged attempt to illegally enter Jantar Mantar protest site and termed "barricades have a purpose". The bench did not give directions on the petition challenging the order extending judicial custody of the CJP leaders and the petitioners ended up withdrawing the plea.

The court questioned the leaders on their alleged decision to breach barricades at Jantar Mantar as it was de-notified as a protest site, and also reportedly reminded the petitioners of the "arson and unrest outside India", while giving reasons to obtain police permission for protests.

"Barricades Have a Purpose": Court Questions CJP Leaders' Protest

As per Bar and Bench report, the court observed that crossing the barricades could lead to more people being provoked and "law and order problem".

"We are seeing what is happening outside our country... Arson etc. You may have started with something you say peaceful processions. For that purpose, you take police permission," the bench said, according to the report.

Additionally, the court questioned the petitioners on maintainability of the challenge to the special executive magistrate's order extending the judicial custody of the CJP leaders and said the petitioners should approach the higher court with the revision petition first.

The court also reportedly asked whether Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka were part of Gen Z or not, after being informed that the first leader was 27 years old and the latter was 32 years old.

"Why Are Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka in Custody?"

Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka have been in judicial custody since October 14 after they climbed the gates of Jantar Mantar protest site. The CJP leaders along with the party founder Abhijeet Dipke had raised several rowdy protests outside the Delhi government which eventually led to the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

Their latest judicial custody was ordered by a special executive magistrate of Delhi's Mandir Marg Police Station on October 19, who gave reasons for public peace and security as the reason for extending the custodianship of the CJP leaders. The magistrate reportedly backed the Delhi Police's stand saying that releasing them on bail could cause "adverse effect on public order".

Defense Questions Alleged "Public Order" Threat to Custody of CJP Leaders

The petition challenging the extension of judicial custody of the CJP leaders came up with the contention that Delhi Police did not give reasons for the alleged threat to public order as the police order only stated the materials which formed the basis for filing of first information report (FIR) against them for violating the peace bond.

"The petitioner's counsel further contended before the court that there was no justification for not following the procedure prescribed under the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) for withdrawal of bail in case of violation of bail conditions by the accused persons," the report said.

The matter pertains to the Delhi Police's decision to de-notify Jantar Mantar as a protest site from October 11, which has been separately challenged before the Supreme Court and the Delhi High Court. The latest hearing in this regard does not seem to have concluded the tussle between the CJP and Delhi Police over the Jantar Mantar.