Parliament Security Breach: Delhi High Court Questions Choice Of December 13, Flags Link With 2001 Attack

The Delhi High Court on Thursday remarked that the act of accused in the 2023 Parliament security breach case of choosing the date as December 13, which is similar to 2001 attack, cannot be a coincidence.

“What is the date of parliament attack case (of 2001)?…. It was the very (same day)… they picked the day,” a division bench headed by Justice Prathiba M Singh remarked orally.

The bench, also comprising Justice Madhu Jain, was hearing the pleas filed by accused Manoranjan D, Sagar Sharma and Lalit Jha seeking bail in the UAPA case.

During the hearing today, the Court orally asked Manoranjan's counsel as to how did the accused enter the parliament to which he responded that the accused protested to raise the issue of unemployment.

As the Bench questioned the counsel regarding the date of the incident, the lawyer said that there is no connection with the two incidents- the 2001 attack and the 2023 security breach.

To this, Justice Singh remarked: “It can't be a coincident. 13th December can't be a coincident.”

Manoranjan's counsel said that there is no previous involvement on the part of his client who is a software engineer by profession. He conceded that even if there was anger, the way of protest chosen by the accused was wrong.

“I totally agree that his way was wrong but at the same time when we go to history of freedom, even english people did not kept people behind jail for indefinite period, specially when charge has not been framed. For the last two years, charges have not been framed and they (prosecution) has been taking dates on one pretext or the other,” Senior Advocate KK Menon representing Manoranjan said.

The Bench then referred to recent Supreme Court ruling in Gulfisha Fatima v. State wherein the definition of terrorist act has been considered.

The Court asked both the sides to consider the said judgment and make submissions thereafter.

The matter is now listed for hearing on February 02.

In July last year, a coordinate bench had granted bail to co accused Neelam Azad and Mahesh Kumawat. However, they were barred from doing any press conferences or giving any interviews. The Court had also restrained them from posting anything on the social media relating to the incident in question.

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.”

Title: Manoranjan D v. State & other connected matters