‘Police took our phones for 24 hours, might plant evidence’: CJP leaders after release from detention

CJP leaders Ashutosh Ranka and Saurav Das expressed concerns after being released from Delhi police custody on Sunday, stating that their phones had been seized and held by authorities for 24 hours during their detention. Speaking at a press conference in Delhi on Sunday afternoon, Das alleged that the police failed to follow the proper legal procedures for seizing electronic devices, including the preparation of a seizure memo.

He claimed that the trio was taken to different locations during their 24-hour detention period. The three CJP leaders—Ranka, Das and Abhijeet Dipke—were taken into custody from the aircraft they landed in Delhi on Saturday morning. Upon their release on Sunday morning, police stated that their detention included a bond for "maintaining peace and good behaviour, for a period of one year."

Ranka accused Prime Minister Modi and Amit Shah of causing a breach of peace, alleging that the clampdown on protests and the mass detention of protestors has "damaged the image of our country." He also criticized the transformation of the protest site at Jantar Mantar into a highly secured fortress, which he claimed was inconveniencing residents and creating an atmosphere of confrontation.

The CJP leaders vowed to continue their peaceful protests across the country until their demands are met, emphasizing that they would hold a protest march again on Sunday and continue their agitation until the resignation of the Chief Election Commissioner is achieved.