2023 Parliament security breach: Delhi HC grants bail to two accused
A Bench of Justices Subramonium Prasad and Harish Vaidyanathan Shankar granted the reprieve on a personal bond of ₹50,000 each and two sureties. 'They shall not give interviews or make any statement regarding the case before the press or social media. They shall not leave Delhi and appear before the investigating agency every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday,' the court said.
The accused had challenged a trial court's order rejecting their bail pleas. The trial court had found sufficient evidence to believe that the allegations were 'prima facie' true. Delhi Police had opposed the bail applications, alleging that the accused intended to bring back 'haunted memories' of the 2001 Parliament attack.
The security breach occurred on December 13, 2023, coinciding with the anniversary of the 2001 Parliament terror attack. During the incident, the co-accused, Sagar Sharma and Manoranjan D., allegedly jumped into the Lok Sabha chamber from the public gallery during Zero Hour. They released yellow gas from canisters and sloganeered before being overpowered by some MPs.
Around the same time, another accused, Amol Shinde, and Ms. Azad allegedly sprayed coloured gas from canisters outside Parliament premises while shouting 'tanashahi nahi chalegi (dictatorship won't work)'.
According to the police, preliminary inquiries revealed that Ms. Azad and Mr. Shinde were associates of Mr. Sharma and Mr. Manoranjan, and together carried out the terror act. Delhi Police had arrested Mr. Kumawat on December 16 on charges of criminal conspiracy and destruction of evidence.
Earlier, the court had sought clarification from the police on whether the act of carrying or using a smoke canister within Parliament premises or outside would invoke provisions under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, and if such an act would come under the definition of terrorist activities.
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