Parliament Security Breach Accused Wanted To Bring Back 'Haunted Memories' Of 2001 Attack To 'Majestic New' Building: Police To Delhi HC

The Delhi Police has told the Delhi High Court that the accused persons arrested over the security breach in the Parliament on 13 December, 2023, wanted to bring back “haunted memories” of the 2001 Parliament attack to the “majestic” new parliament building.

The submission was made by the Delhi Police while opposing the bail plea of accused Neelam Azad.

“Even though the plans to mount an assault in the Parliament were being deliberated from as early as 2015, by the time the plan came to fruition, the majestic New Parliament building, a symbol of resurgent, revitalized India, had been inaugurated and was functional,” the response states.

It adds: “In a recorded disclosure statement of accused Neelam, there is a sinister reference from Manoranjan that what they were about to do in the New Parliament will bring back haunted memories of something that had taken place in the Old Parliament.”

The Delhi Police has said that after the incident, there was absolute panic and terror amongst all those who were present in the Parliament and that the entire Nation, for a few moments, was stunned by the act of the accused persons.

It has said that detailed investigations have categorically established that prime accused Manoranjan and his associates had always been planning a disruptive terror attack in the Parliament.

“The use of revered patriots and freedom fighters like Shaheed Bhagat Singh, Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose etc., in their digital footprints and sundry discussions, to arrogate patriotism while, as interrogations have revealed, the accused had limited or purely perfunctory knowledge about the philosophies or lives of these great men,” the response states.

It adds that elaborate efforts were taken by the accused persons to maintain secrecy, using end-to-end apps like Signal.

The Police has further said that even though the accused persons very specifically tried to destroy all digital evidences before the incident, they ensured to gain absolute publicity post the incident.

“Espousing random, disparate and unconnected agendas only as a façade for continuing their search for more and more associates; none of the present accused have been found to have been directly or indirectly affected by any of the agendas they proclaim to have been the cause of their disaffection towards the Constitutionally ordained system of governance of India,” the response reads.

In a major security breach on the anniversary of the 2001 Parliament terror attack, two persons jumped into the chamber of Lok Sabha from the public gallery when the Zero Hour was in session. The duo was identified as Sagar Sharma and Manoranjan D.

In the photographs and videos that surfaced on social media, the two were seen holding canisters which released yellow gas. They were also shouting slogans. However, they were overpowered by some of the Member of Parliaments (MPs).

Two other accused, identified as Amol Shinde and Neelam Azad, also sprayed coloured gas from similar canisters outside the premises of the Parliament. They were reportedly shouting "tanashahi nahi chalegi.”

Case Title: MANORANJAN D v. State (Govt. of NCT of Delhi)