Censuring Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) leaders Ashutosh Ranka and Saurav Das, ‘you are not Gen Z’, the Delhi High Court on Wednesday rapped them saying they were at the forefront of the protests and allegedly breached barricades despite having no permission.
These sharp remarks came when they approached the court challenging the extension of their judicial custody by the Special Executive Magistrate (SEM). Ranka and Das later withdrew their plea after Justice Subramonium Prasad expressed disinclination to entertain their writ petition, in view of the availability of an alternative remedy, and approached the SEM for bail, which granted them bail with certain conditions.
Later in the day, SEM Ritu Raj at Mandir Marg ordered their release. The two must furnish personal and surety bonds of Rs 50,000 each until the inquiry ends. A release warrant was sent to the Superintendent of Central Jail, Tihar.
The SEM said the threat to peace could be met by a bond for keeping the peace, backed by written undertakings given in court that day. Further judicial custody “does not appear to be necessary,” the order said. The magistrate added that he had questioned the sureties personally and was prima facie satisfied.
The Delhi Police had sought three more days of custody. Their counsel argued that the fear of a fresh breach of peace remained. They said the two kept shifting their stand, and that what they told the court differed from what they said in the media. The written reply filed on Wednesday also contradicted earlier submissions, they said, and the two deserved no leniency.
The police also raised the conduct of another member of the group, who allegedly gave a media byte while on the way to Tihar on the last hearing date. This, they said, undermined the majesty of the SEM courts. The counsel for the two apologised verbally and unconditionally and assured the court it would not be repeated.
In their written undertakings, both said they would not breach the peace and had full faith in the judiciary, including the SEM court. They said they would not call for protests at Jantar Mantar until it is denotified under law. Any protest, they said, would stay within the four corners of the Constitution.
The court also noted that the vakalatnama first filed for the two was not as per law. It had been signed without the court’s permission and lacked details. A fresh one was signed and taken on record. The two must appear on every date of hearing and keep law and order. The investigating officer must file a verification report on the sureties. The case returns to court on October 23 at 3 pm.
Earlier in the day, the High Court heard them because they sought an urgent hearing while it was shut for the Dussehra break. Justice Prasad said a writ petition was not the right remedy for what he called a “repeat case” of violating a peace bond. He asked them to await the SEM hearing and approach the appellate court if aggrieved.
Their counsel, Abhik Chimni, argued that the two should be freed on personal bonds and that the SEM could not extend their custody. The judge asked whether authorities could not seek a stricter surety in a repeat case. The court asked their ages. Das was 27, and Ranka was in his early thirties. “That means you are not Gen Z,” the judge said, noting that those born after 1997 are counted as Gen Z. Chimni said they were an inspiration. CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke later posted a picture of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on X, calling him the only person who qualifies as Gen Z.
The judge asked who the petitioners were and what their purpose was. He said people stay the same while causes change, and that talk of “regime change” is a matter for the ballot. He warned them against drawing the court into a debate that might not go in their favour. He also explained why police permission matters.
It keeps out unwanted people who may join a group and spoil its name. A broken barricade can draw 10 to 20 more people, he said, pointing to arson and unrest abroad. He made no comment on the merits. Additional Solicitor General Chetan Sharma and advocate Ashish Dixit appeared for the police.