World · India Bureau
Judicial custody extended for protest site trespassers; sureties rejected
Two individuals face continued detention after entering Delhi's Jantar Mantar following its denotification as an authorized protest venue. Their legal representatives have raised concerns about delays in processing release procedures.
LSN India ·
Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka were remanded to five days of judicial custody on October 14 after they allegedly breached the locked gates of Jantar Mantar in New Delhi, which had been stripped of its status as a designated protest site.
The two were booked following the incident at the landmark location, which has long served as a focal point for demonstrations and public activism in the national capital. Their unauthorized entry came after the authorities moved to restrict access to the venue.
According to reports, efforts to secure their release on bail have encountered procedural obstacles. The courts rejected four separate surety applications filed in connection with the case, according to sources close to the matter. The reasons cited for the rejections were not immediately clarified.
The incident reflects ongoing tensions between protest rights and public space management in Delhi. The denotification of Jantar Mantar as a protest site had sparked debate among civil society groups regarding restrictions on freedom of assembly and expression.