Delhi HC grants bail to 2 accused in 2023 Parl breach case

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday granted bail to two accused in the Parliament security breach case of 2023, with strict conditions, including no interaction with the media.

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A Bench comprising Justices Subramonium Prasad and Harish Vaidyanathan Shankar granted bail to Neelam Azad and Mahesh Kumawat on a personal bond of Rs 50,000 each, along with two sureties of the same amount.

While granting relief, the court directed both accused not to give media interviews or post anything related to the case on social media. They have also been barred from leaving Delhi, directed that they must report to the designated police station every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 10 am.

The two had approached the High Court after a trial court denied them bail. The case stems from a major security breach in Parliament on December 13, 2023. The day also marked the anniversary of the 2001 Parliament terror attack.

During Zero Hour in the Lok Sabha, two accused, Sagar Sharma and Manoranjan D, allegedly leapt from the visitors’ gallery into the House chamber, releasing yellow smoke from canisters and shouting slogans, before being overpowered by the MPs.

Around the same time, their co-accused Amol Shinde and Neelam Azad allegedly staged a protest outside the Parliament complex, releasing coloured smoke and shouting slogans like “Tanashahi nahin chalegi” (dictatorship won’t work).

The incident had triggered a major political uproar and led to serious questions about Parliament’s security protocols.