Mamata Banerjee on Monday, October 19, demanded the immediate release of Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka, branding their extended custody 'state-sponsored terrorism', the Times of India reported. Her demand came on the day a Delhi court extended the two leaders' judicial custody by two more days.

Special Executive Magistrate Ritu Raj, presiding over the New Delhi district court at Mandir Marg, passed the order on October 19 on a Delhi Police application that had sought a five-day extension, Live Law reported. The court directed Das and Ranka to file written submissions within two days and to furnish fresh sureties after finding the earlier sureties unfit, and listed the matter for further proceedings on October 21 at 2 PM; until then, the two remain in judicial custody.

The case concerns the alleged violation of peace bonds by attempting to unfurl the national flag at Jantar Mantar — a de-notified protest site — in breach of prohibitory orders.

The two were first apprehended at an airport on October 10 and subjected to preventive proceedings under Sections 126 and 170 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), furnishing peace bonds of Rs 50,000 before being released the same day; they were apprehended again on October 14 after the Jantar Mantar protest attempt and remanded to five days of judicial custody by Executive Magistrate Mahesh Kumar Meena.

Police alleged the two breached their bonds by calling on the public to assemble at Jantar Mantar and other non-designated sites, while their counsel argued they should be released immediately and had not called any protest after October 10.

The CJP's legal head Ratna Singh alleged the prosecution was using delaying tactics, an allegation the party repeated on social media; the claims are contested and the proceedings are ongoing.

Sources: Live Law, Times of India, Daily Jagran.