A local court has extended the judicial custody of Citizens for Justice and Peace activists Ashutosh Ranka and Saurav Das, refusing them immediate relief following their arrest in New Delhi, according to reporting by NDTV — Top Stories.
The two individuals were taken into custody after allegedly breaching the perimeter of Jantar Mantar, an area historically known for public demonstrations that authorities recently denotified as an official designated protest site.
Arrests at Denotified Protest Site
Law enforcement detained Ranka and Das on October 13 after they entered the Jantar Mantar complex by scaling its locked gates, according to the corroborated dispatch. The site, situated in central New Delhi, had previously served as a prominent location for political rallies and civil demonstrations before its formal denotification by authorities.
Following their apprehension, both individuals were questioned by police regarding their unauthorized entry into the restricted public area. The incident occurred amid heightened security surrounding administrative measures implemented across several historic assembly points in the capital.
Court Refuses Immediate Relief
On October 14, the presiding court initially remanded both Ranka and Das to five days of judicial custody. Upon the completion of that detention period, the court reviewed the matter and ruled that their jail custody would be extended rather than granting them bail or ordering their immediate release.
Legal representatives for the detained activists had sought relief from the court, but authorities maintained the need for continued custody while proceedings continue regarding the breach of the secured facility.
