Saurav Das, Ashutosh Ranka Case: Live Updates on SEM Hearing
Image: PTI
Updated 4:15 PM IST, October 21, 2026: The Delhi High Court on Wednesday allowed Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) activists Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka to withdraw their petition against the extension of their judicial custody. Justice Subramonium Prasad did not rule on the merits and left all contentions open for the Special Executive Magistrate (SEM), whose hearing on their sureties was listed for about 2 pm. Their custody was due to end on October 21. No outlet had reported the SEM’s decision at the time of writing; this page is updated every hour until it is out.
Timeline (IST)
Newest first. Allegations are the authorities’ and have not been tested in court; Das and Ranka have not been convicted of anything.
- AWAITED
SEM hearing on sureties. The SEM was to reconsider the petitioners’ sureties at about 2 pm, according to the judge’s remarks reported by LawBeat. Additional Solicitor General Chetan Sharma told the High Court the two had been directed to furnish fresh sureties on October 21. The outcome had not been reported when this entry was written.
Crime Branch. Gujarat Samachar reported that Delhi Police has transferred the Jantar Mantar trespass case against the two to the Crime Branch. IPB has not found a police statement confirming this.
High Court petition withdrawn. Advocate Abhik Chimni withdrew the petition, which challenged the SEM’s October 19 order and sought release. Bar & Bench recorded that “all contentions for both sides are left open”. The judge asked why a writ petition was filed when SEM proceedings were due later that day, and said the remedy was a revision under the BNSS. Chimni had argued that the SEM lacked jurisdiction and that two additional sureties were not considered; the Additional Solicitor General accused the petitioners of “fissiparous conduct”.
Custody extended by two days. SEM Ritu Raj extended judicial custody to October 21, finding, according to ANI, that the two had “deliberately breached their Bonds dated 11.10.2026” and showed “no respect for law”. The SEM found both proposed sureties unfit: one had a photo mismatch between the bond and his Aadhaar card, and the other could not give basic details about Das. The investigating officer had sought five more days of custody. Chimni said the two made no protest calls after October 10 and went to Jantar Mantar individually.
Five days of judicial custody. An SEM sent the two to five days of judicial custody, and they were held in Tihar jail, as IPB reported.
Taken into custody at Jantar Mantar. Delhi Police detained them after they scaled a gate at the de-notified site during a protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, Bar & Bench reported.
Bonds furnished. The two furnished bail bonds, dated October 11, after Jantar Mantar was de-notified as a protest venue, The Week reported. The authorities allege they returned to the site within days and breached these bonds.
Earlier IPB reports: release delay, Abhijeet Dipke released on peace bond and what Supreme Court rulings say on preventive detention. More in Daily Updates.
Source: Based on reporting by Bar & Bench, Bar & Bench (live updates), The Week, ANI, LawBeat, Asianet Newsable and Gujarat Samachar.
Image: PTI.
