Delhi Executive Magistrate Releases Three Detained Protest Organisers on Peace Bonds

A Special Executive Magistrate in Delhi ordered the release of protest organisers Abhijeet Dipke, Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka on Sunday after their preventive detention ahead of a demonstration at Jantar Mantar.

Background

The three were detained on 10 October shortly after arriving by air from Mumbai to participate in a demonstration concerning the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls and the Chief Election Commissioner. Reports say they were taken into custody before leaving the aircraft and subsequently produced before a Special Executive Magistrate at Delhi Cantonment Police Station.

Legal issue

The police action was reported as preventive rather than the result of a conviction. India Legal Live identified Sections 126 and 170 BNSS as the provisions invoked in the reported proceedings. That account should not be read as an independent judicial ruling that every step of the detention was lawful.

Court reasoning and significance

The Magistrate permitted release after the three executed bonds requiring them not to engage in activity likely to breach the peace for one year. A peace bond is a preventive condition, not a criminal sentence. It does not determine the validity of every police action preceding production before the Magistrate. The broader legality of preventive detention and restrictions during the protests was also under scrutiny in separate Supreme Court proceedings.

Decision and next step

The three organisers were released from preventive custody subject to the peace-bond condition. The report identifies advocates Soutik Banerjee and Devika Tulsiani as appearing for them.