Delhi High Court Grants Bail in Parliament Breach with Conditions

New Delhi, July 2 (PTI): In a marked decision, the Delhi High Court has granted bail to two individuals implicated in the 2023 Parliament security breach case, but with strict conditions limiting their spoken engagement about the case. A bench comprising Justices Subramonium Prasad and Harish Vaidyanathan Shankar approved bail for Neelam Azad and Mahesh Kumawat, who must each furnish a personal bond of Rs 50,000 and provide two sureties.

"We are granting bail... 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 stipulated.

The accused had previously contested a trial court's denial of their bail plea, following the December 2023 incident. This was no ordinary breach; it occurred on the anniversary of the 2001 Parliament terror attack, when Sagar Sharma and Manoranjan D allegedly leapt into the Lok Sabha chamber from the public gallery during Zero Hour, releasing yellow gas from canisters and shouting slogans before being subdued by MPs.

Simultaneously, two others—Amol Shinde and Azad—allegedly emitted colored gas from canisters while decrying "tanashahi nahi chalegi (dictatorship won't work)" outside Parliament's grounds.

Delhi police had opposed the bail applications, arguing the accused intended to revive "haunted memories" of the 2001 Parliament attack. The preliminary inquiry suggested Azad and Shinde had been working alongside Sharma and Manoranjan D to execute this brazen act. The court further queried the accused on their choice of December 13, a day marked by the historic 2001 Parliament attack, as a date for their protest, despite being aware of assigned protest locations in the capital.

Authorities were also pressed to clarify if the carrying or use of smoke canisters, both inside and outside Parliament premises, would fall under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) or qualify as a terrorist act. The trial court had previously denied Azad's bail, citing substantial evidence supporting the allegations against her as "prima facie" true.

Further, it was noted all accused—including Azad, Manoranjan D, Sagar Sharma, Amol Dhanraj Shinde, Lalit Jha, and Mahesh Kumawat—were aware of the risk posed by designated terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannu, who had threatened Parliament on December 13, 2023. While four suspects were apprehended onsite, others, Jha and Kumawat, were subsequently arrested.