Parliament breach case: Delhi court extends remand of four accused

A Delhi court today extended the remand of four of the accused in the Parliament breach case, who face charges under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967. 

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TODAY, a Delhi court extended the police remand of four of the accused persons in the recent Parliament security breach case by 15 days.

On December 13, the anniversary of the 2001 Parliament attack, the four accused assailed the new Parliament building, releasing coloured smoke from canisters and shouting slogans as part of a 'conspiracy' to repeat the 1929 feat of Shaheed Bhagat Singh.

A case under Sections 16 (punishment for terrorist act) and 18 (punishment for conspiracy, etc.) of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, (UAPA) 1967 has been registered against the four of them and their two accomplices.

Sections 120B (criminal conspiracy), 452 ( house trespass after preparation for hurt, assault or wrongful restrain), 153 (wantonly giving provocation, with intent to cause riot), 186 (obstructing public servant in discharge of public functions) and 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty) of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 has also been invoked against them.

The background

On December 13, two of the six accused, Sagar Sharma and Manoranjan D., entered the Parliament on a pass issued in the name of Bharatiya Janata Party member of Parliament (MPs) from Mysuru Pratap Simha.

From the visitor's gallery in Lok Sabha in the new Parliament building, they jumped onto the floor of the House during the zero hour, releasing coloured smoke from canisters.

Sagar and Manoranjan shouted slogans such as "inquilab zindabad" (long live revolution) and "Bhagat Singh amar rahe" (long live Bhagat Singh). However, they were soon overpowered by some MPs. They were thrashed by the MPs before being handed over to the police.

While Sagar and Manoranjan were inside, the two other accomplices, Amol Shinde and Neelam Devi, sprayed coloured gas and shouted the slogans "tanashahi nahi chalegi" (dictatorship will not prevail) and "Jai Bhim" outside the Parliament premises.

On December 14, a Delhi court remanded them into the custody of Delhi police for seven days.

Two more accomplices, Mahesh Kumawat and Lalit Jha, who were involved in planning the breach, were arrested over the next few days.

Jha is alleged to be the "mastermind" of the conspiracy and was sent to seven days police remand on December 15. Similarly, Kumawat was sent to seven days police remand on December 16.

Sagar, Manoranjan, Amol and Neelam were produced before a Delhi court today. They have been sent to a further fifteen-day police remand after the Delhi police asked for some more time to investigate the case.

The six persons have been inspired by Bhagat Singh, the famous Indian revolutionary who, as part of the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association, threw low-intensity bombs and pamphlets in the Indian Parliament (Central Legislative Assembly) on April 8, 1929.

It is alleged that the six 'conspirators' were associated with a social media page 'Bhagat Singh Fan Club'.