Allahabad HC Stay on Murder Convict’s Sentence Sparks CJP Founder’s Reaction

CJP Founder Questions Legal Contradiction as Co-Convenors’ Judicial Custody Extended

New Delhi: Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke on Monday, October 19, questioned what he described as a contrast in the legal system after the Allahabad High Court stayed the conviction and sentence of a murder convict seeking to contest elections, while CJP co-convenors Ashutosh Ranka and Saurav Das were remanded to judicial custody for two more days.

Dipke shared screenshots of two news reports on X, highlighting the High Court’s order in the case of Nandlal Rai alias Babloo Rai and the extension of judicial custody for the two CJP leaders.

Allahabad High Court stays conviction of murder convict

According to reports, the Allahabad High Court stayed the conviction and life sentence of Nandlal Rai, who was convicted last year in a 2017 murder case. Rai had expressed his desire to contest the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections as an independent candidate or, if possible, on a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ticket.

The court observed that the right to livelihood of an ordinary person was no less important than a politician’s right to contest elections. It said the conviction and sentence deserved to be stayed to allow Rai to sustain himself until a final decision was delivered in his pending appeal.

CJP founder praises co-convenors’ sacrifices

In a separate post, Dipke praised Ranka and Das for giving up successful careers and financial security to work towards improving the country.

He said Ranka had previously held a high-paying corporate job in London, while Das had been writing about the country’s legal system. According to Dipke, both could have continued their comfortable lives but chose to stand up for people facing difficulties.

Dipke described their willingness to fight for people they did not personally know and risk their own security for the welfare of others as qualities worthy of admiration.

CJP legal head questions proceedings

CJP legal head Ratna Singh also criticised the proceedings, describing the hearing before the special executive magistrate’s court as “no less than a circus.” She called for the abolition of the court, alleging that legal provisions were being misused to keep the two activists in custody.

Singh questioned the rejection of the sureties submitted for Ranka and Das and said their lawyers had presented legal arguments without any established apprehension of a protest or breach of peace.

She also alleged that the magistrate was using a phone during the courtroom proceedings and called for an inquiry into the functioning of the authorities. These allegations could not be independently verified from the information available.

Why were the CJP leaders detained?

Ranka and Das were remanded to judicial custody for two more days on October 19 after being produced before a newly appointed special executive magistrate at Mandir Marg police station, an official said.

The two were initially sent to judicial custody for five days on October 13. They were detained after allegedly climbing over a locked gate to enter Jantar Mantar, which had been de-notified as a designated protest site. Along with other CJP activists, they reportedly displayed the national flag and raised slogans against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

The CJP has alleged that the bail proceedings were deliberately delayed and that the sureties were rejected on vague grounds. On Sunday, the special executive magistrate hearing the bail matter reportedly claimed that unidentified persons had threatened him, following which police registered a non-cognisable report.

Ranka and Das were expected to be produced before the special executive magistrate again on Wednesday, October 21.

The developments have sparked criticism from CJP leaders, who have raised concerns over due process, bail proceedings and individual liberty. The allegations made by the party remain contested and should be considered separately from the court proceedings.