Delhi Police has registered a non-cognizable report (NCR) against unidentified persons over alleged threats issued to the Special Executive Magistrate stationed at Mandir Marg. According to the police, the threats were linked to the hearing concerning the bail of Ashutosh Ranka and Saurav Das.
A day earlier, CJP had alleged that the SEM did not preside over the hearing after claiming that a CJP member had threatened to kill him. However, CJP maintains that the alleged threat had nothing to do with the bail of Ashutosh and Saurav. Police have initiated legal action based on the complaint received from the SEM.
CJP legal head Ratna Singh expressed disappointment over the proceedings, stating that she had been present at the court premises since morning and had been given a hearing time of 12 noon. According to her, hearing dates had been repeatedly assigned over the previous four days.
Ratna Singh said all formalities, including verification of sureties and approval of fixed deposits (FDs), had been completed by 12 noon. Despite this, the legal team continued to wait for hours.
She said the hearing finally began at around 5 pm, raising hopes that the issue of releasing Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka from judicial custody would be considered on its merits. However, she alleged that the government lawyer suddenly raised the issue of threatening messages.
Questioning the decision to allow the matter to affect the release proceedings, Ratna Singh said her lawyers had clearly told the court that if someone had issued threats, action should be taken against that individual, with the person's name and phone number recorded in the copy of the order.
She questioned what the alleged threats had to do with the release of Saurav and Ashutosh.
“Keeping someone's liberty restricted indefinitely on the basis of messages sent by a third person is absolutely not right,” Ratna Singh said. She added that the main issue before the court had been sidelined and that the magistrate left the proceedings just minutes later.
Ratna Singh confirmed that Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka were still in Tihar Jail. She said the organisation would consult its lawyers and legal advisers before deciding on further legal steps.
Abhijit Dipke also criticised the delay in a post on X, alleging that the government was deliberately prolonging the “illegal arrest” of Ashu and Saurav and resorting to tactics to delay court proceedings and prevent their release.
Dipke claimed that there was no legal basis for keeping the two behind bars and alleged that delays were being used to ensure they remained in custody.
With Delhi Police investigating the alleged threats following the SEM's complaint, the dispute now involves both the reported intimidation and the pending release of the two CJP leaders. The completion of bail-related formalities has not yet resulted in their release, leaving their next legal steps dependent on consultations with their legal team.
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