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Parliament Security Breach: Court Reserves Bail Order for Neelam Azad in High-Profile UAPA Case

September 9, 2024, 5:16 pm

The Patiala House Court has reserved its decision on the bail plea of Neelam Azad, accused in the Parliament security breach case from last year. After hearing the arguments, Additional Sessions Judge Hardeep Kaur set September 11, 2024, as the date for the verdict.

Opposing the bail, Special Public Prosecutor Akhand Pratap Singh argued that there is strong evidence against Azad under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), making her ineligible for bail. The prosecution highlighted concerns regarding flight risk, witness tampering, and the severity of the charges, which include sections of UAPA for threatening national security.

Azad’s lawyer, Balraj Malik, criticized the application of UAPA, arguing that the case doesn’t pose a threat to economic security or sovereignty. He also questioned the prosecution’s narrative, stating that the accused were allegedly beaten in Parliament during the incident.

On June 7, 2024, the Delhi Police filed a 1000-page chargesheet against the six accused in the Parliament attack, including Azad. Delhi’s Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena had granted prosecution sanctions under UAPA against all six, citing sufficient evidence.

Also read: Manipur: Torch Rally in Imphal Amid Rising Ethnic Violence

The case, which involves allegations of throwing smoke canisters during a live Parliament session on December 13, 2023, remains under intense scrutiny as all accused remain in judicial custody.

Delhi Police Probes Fake ID Incident, 3 Men Attempt Unauthorized Entry to Parliament Complex

June 7, 2024, 4:21 pm

The Delhi Police initiated an investigation after three men, identified as Kasim, Monis, and Soyeb, were apprehended for gaining unauthorized access to the heavily guarded Parliament building using forged Aadhaar cards, an official stated on Friday.

The incident occurred on June 4th. The trio has been charged under various sections including forgery, cheating, criminal conspiracy, and using forged documents as genuine at the Parliament Street police station.

According to FIR, the CISF official deployed at Parliament House, Iron Gate No. 03 for checking photo IDs, on June 4 at 1.30 p.m. detected three workers — Kasim, Monis and Soyeb, all residents of Uttar Pradesh, while they were trying to get entry on Casual entry pass.

“Monis and Kasim displayed the same Aadhaar card number with the individual’s photo. They made these forged documents under a conspiracy and used them as genuine and Kasim also impersonated Monis,” read the FIR.

The FIR also stated that all three labourers are employed by the contractor Sahnawaj Alam, who recruited them.

“Moreover, it appears that one or both of the Aadhaar cards belonging to Monis and Kasim were counterfeit,” it added.

They were engaged in construction tasks in the MP lounge.

3 Arrested For Attempting To Enter Parliament With Forged Aadhaar Cards

June 7, 2024, 1:51 pm

In a significant security breach, three labourers from Uttar Pradesh were arrested after attempting to enter the high-security Parliament complex using forged Aadhaar cards. The Delhi Police detained the accused, identified as Kasim, Monis, and Soyeb, on charges of forgery and cheating.

The incident occurred on Tuesday when the trio was intercepted by CISF (Central Industrial Security Force) personnel at the flap gate entry of Parliament House while standing in a queue for a security check. The labourers presented their Aadhaar cards, which aroused suspicion among the CISF personnel. Upon further scrutiny, the documents were confirmed to be forged.

Investigations revealed that the three men were hired by Dee Vee Projects Limited and were engaged in the construction of the MP’s lounge inside the Parliament complex. Their attempt to gain unauthorized access raised serious security concerns, leading to immediate action by the authorities.

Following the detection of the forged documents, the CISF personnel handed over the three accused to the Delhi Police. An FIR was registered against them under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), including Section 465 (forgery), Section 419 (cheating by personation), Section 120B (criminal conspiracy), Section 471 (using as genuine a forged document), and Section 468 (forgery for purpose of cheating).

This incident comes in the wake of the CISF taking over the entire security of the Parliament complex, replacing the CRPF and Delhi Police contingents. The CISF’s vigilance and prompt action in this case highlight the critical importance of stringent security measures in safeguarding the nation’s legislative buildings.

As the investigation continues, the Delhi Police are working to determine the full extent of the conspiracy and any potential security lapses. This incident underscores the ongoing need for rigorous verification processes and the highest standards of security protocols within the Parliament complex.

Parliament security breach: Five of six accused give consent to polygraph examination, Neelam Azad denies

January 5, 2024, 2:26 pm

Five of the six suspects detained on Friday in connection with a security breach in the parliament agreed to take a polygraph exam. Neelam Azad, the accused, rejected the polygraph exam. Additionally, accused Manoranjan and Sagar have given their approval for the tests of brain mapping and narcotic analysis. Additional Sessions Judge (ASJ) Hardeep Kaur noted the accused parties’ affirmative and negative responses. The court further ordered that all accused individuals remain under police custody for an additional eight days. Before the court were all of the accused. For a legal meeting regarding the polygraph test, Legal Aid Counsel requested fifteen minutes. The same was approved by the court.

Thereafter accused Amol Shinde, Lalit Jha, Manoranjan D, Sagar Sharma, and Mahesh Kumawat gave their consent for the Polygraph test. In addition, Manoranjan and Sagar Sharma gave their consent for the Narco analysis and Brain mapping test. However, the accused Neelam Azad denies consent for the polygraph test.
Meanwhile, Delhi police sought a further 8 days of custody for the confrontation of mobile data. The special public prosecutor (SPP) Akhand Pratap submitted that a Polygraph of all six accused is required and in addition the Narco and Brain mapping of Manoranjan and Sagar.

Legal Aid Counsel objected to the police custody, arguing that judicial custody could be used for both the data confrontation and the polygraph. Additionally, SPP stated that they will receive mobile phone data from the FSL by Monday. Additionally, SPP stated that UAPA gave the agency the authority to hold suspects for up to 30 days.

Parliament Security Breach: Court Extends Custody of Sixth Accused Mahesh Kumawat by 13 Days

December 23, 2023, 12:56 pm

On Saturday, the Patiala House Court in Delhi extended Mahesh Kumawat’s police custody, the sixth accused in the Parliament security breach case, by 13 days. The extension was granted by Special Judge Dr Hardeep Kaur in response to an application filed by the Delhi Police as part of the ongoing investigation into the breach incident.

The Delhi Police, represented by special public prosecutor Akhand Pratap Singh, stated that a psychological test of the accused was underway and further custody was necessary to confront him based on the psychology analysis report. Mahesh Kumawat had been in police custody for seven days before the extension.

Mahesh Kumawat was arrested in connection with the Parliament security breach incident on December 13. During the last hearing, the Delhi Police apprised the court that the conspiracy behind the breach had been in progress for over a year. They revealed that Mahesh attended all meetings held in various cities related to the conspiracy.

The public prosecutor disclosed that Mahesh had been in contact with the other accused for the past two years and actively participated in the conspiracy. His involvement extended to the destruction of a mobile phone and providing evidence to the prime accused and mastermind, Lalit Jha.

The police claimed that Mahesh, along with others, aimed to create anarchy in the country and compel the government to meet their ‘unjust’ and ‘illegal’ demands.

Simultaneously, the Delhi Police’s Special Cell conducted psycho-analysis tests on all the accused involved in the case. The tests, conducted at a government institute in Rohini, included Mahesh Kumawat and Lalit Jha. Additionally, the Special Cell is working on reactivating the destroyed SIM cards of all the accused, a move expected to yield new leads in the ongoing investigation.

Lok Sabha Adjourned Sine Die, Passing Key Bills Including CEC Appointment and Press Act Replacement

December 21, 2023, 4:59 pm

Lok Sabha was adjourned sine die a day ahead of the scheduled close of the winter session of Parliament after passing some key bills. The Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Bill, 2023, and the Press and Registration of Periodicals Bill, 2023 were among the bills passed on Thursday.

The winter session, which began on December 4, witnessed a security breach incident on December 13 when two individuals jumped into the Lok Sabha chamber. The session also saw the suspension of 100 opposition MPs, with most of them suspended for the remainder of the winter session due to “misconduct.” The opposition members had demanded a statement from Home Minister Amit Shah over the security breach incident.

In addition to these developments, the Lok Sabha passed three significant bills on Wednesday, aiming to replace the Indian Penal Code (IPC) of 1860, the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), and the Indian Evidence Act of 1872. Home Minister Amit Shah highlighted that these bills mark the first time changes have been made in the laws governing the nearly 150-year-old criminal justice system.

The winter session of Parliament was originally scheduled to conclude on December 22. The session has been marked by crucial legislative discussions, security concerns, and disciplinary actions against certain members of the opposition.

Parliament Security Breach: Delhi Court Extends Police Custody of Four Accused by 15 Days

December 21, 2023, 4:48 pm

The Patiala House Court has granted a 15-day extension to the custodial remand of four accused individuals—Manoranjan, Neelam, Sagar, and Anmol—in the Parliament security breach case. The accused will remain in the custody of the Special Cell of Delhi Police until January 5, 2024. The case revolves around the security breach that occurred on December 13 when two individuals jumped into the Lok Sabha chamber, triggering smoke cans and raising slogans.

Earlier in the day, the Counter Intelligence Unit (CIU) of the Special Cell brought all six accused in the Parliament breach case to recreate the event. This exercise aimed to match the sequence of events as per the versions provided by the accused. The accused had allegedly formed a WhatsApp group with 7-8 members to plan and share the entire conspiracy for breaching multiple levels of security and entering Parliament.

The Special Cell is actively engaging with all members of the group and seeking assistance from the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) to retrieve the email used by one of the accused. The individuals were kept in different units of the Special Cell, where they underwent sustained interrogation. On Wednesday, the accused were handed over to the CIU for joint interrogation.

The security breach occurred on the 22nd anniversary of the 2001 terror attack on Parliament. Two individuals, Sagar Sharma and Manoranjan D, jumped into the Lok Sabha chamber from the public gallery during Zero Hour, deploying smoke cans and raising slogans before being overpowered. Simultaneously, two protestors, Neelam and Amol, demonstrated outside Parliament with similar gas canisters. All four were arrested and remanded in the custody of the Special Cell for seven days.

The Delhi Police is working to have the SIM card destroyed by the accused reissued to access the email used by one of them. Additionally, six teams from the Special Cell have been assembled to visit locations linked to the accused in Lucknow, Mysuru, Karnataka, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, and Haryana. Investigations have revealed that two pairs of shoes were specially ordered in Lucknow, as the accused aimed to exploit the lack of shoe checks for visitors to the new Parliament, allowing them to hide smoke cans under their footwear.

Parliament security breach: Counter Intelligence Unit brings all 6 accused together to match the timeline of events

December 21, 2023, 11:49 am

According to officials on Thursday, the six accused in the Parliament breach case were brought before the Counter Intelligence Unit (CIU) of the Special Cell of Delhi Police to verify whether the timeliness of events that each of them had previously claimed matched. All six of them, according to Delhi Police, were detained in five separate Special Cell units and subjected to constant grilling. The accused had earlier on Wednesday been turned over to the Counter Intelligence Unit, or CIU, for joint questioning. Manoranjan, Amol, Sagar, and Neelam are the four accused whose seven-day detention is about to end on Thursday.

Coming on the 22nd anniversary of the terror attack on Parliament in 2001, the security breach sent shockwaves throughout the country on December 13.
Two youths — Sagar Sharma and Manoranjan D — jumped into the Lok Sabha chamber from the public gallery during Zero Hour, setting off smoke cans and raising slogans before being overpowered by some members in the Upper House.
In a separate incident that unfolded simultaneously, two more protestors — Neelam (42) and Amol (25) — protested outside the Parliament holding similar gas canisters.

After being taken into custody at the scene, all four of them were brought before the court and placed under remand for a period of seven days in the Special Cell. Sources close to the investigation claim that in order to elaborate on their plan, the security breach suspects formed a WhatsApp group with seven or eight members. The entire plot to get past multiple security layers and into Parliament was shared by the accused on this WhatsApp group.

Parliament security breach Case: Rajya Sabha Adjourned Amid Opposition Protests Over MP Suspensions

December 19, 2023, 12:01 pm

The Rajya Sabha faced disruptions on Tuesday as Opposition MPs protested against the suspension of 45 of their colleagues on Monday, marking the largest-ever action taken in the history of the Parliament’s Upper House. The disruptions led to the adjournment of the House till noon.

As the House assembled at 11 am, Opposition MPs began sloganeering during the ‘Zero Hour,’ expressing their objection to the suspensions. Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar, in an attempt to maintain the dignity of the House, appealed to Parliamentarians to support the functioning of the House. However, the protests continued, leading to the adjournment.

NCP Rajya Sabha MP Sharad Pawar writes to Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar on Parliament security breach incident and suspension of Opposition MPs pic.twitter.com/2Ejv8aXHkT

— ANI (@ANI) December 19, 2023

Chairman Dhankhar had earlier rejected four notices under Rule 267 submitted by Opposition MPs, stating that they lacked merit. The suspension of 45 MPs on Monday was a response to their “misconduct” during House proceedings.

34 suspended MPs are barred from remaining in the Winter Session, while 11 face suspension until the Rajya Sabha’s Committee of Privileges reports are received. Members of the suspended MPs come from a variety of parties, including the Congress, TMC, DMK, RJD, CPI(M), JDU, NCP, SP, JMM, Kerala Congress (M), and an Independent legislator.

#WATCH | On suspension of 92 Opposition MPs, Congress MP Karti Chidambaram says, “Do they want an Opposition-less Parliament? Is this what they are working towards?” pic.twitter.com/kgMdhH6Mwe

— ANI (@ANI) December 19, 2023

The suspension of MPs in both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha has heightened tensions between the ruling and opposition parties, raising concerns about the functioning of Parliament during the ongoing session, which concludes on December 22. The suspended MPs are barred from participating in House proceedings until the respective committees submit their reports, adding a layer of uncertainty to the session’s trajectory.

PIL in SC seeks judicial investigation into Parliament security breach

December 18, 2023, 5:02 pm

A lawyer has petitioned the Supreme Court to conduct an unbiased, independent investigation into the security breach in the lower house of Parliament, overseen by a retired Supreme Court judge. Two intruders broke into the Lok Sabha chamber during Zero Hour on December 13, the 22nd anniversary of the Parliament terror attack, posing a serious threat to public safety. After using their visitor passes to enter the Parliament, two men leaped from the visitors’ gallery into the Lok Sabha hall and uncorked smoke canisters, causing colored smoke to fill the building.

The petition filed by advocate Abu Sohel through advocate Shruti Bisht said that the incident has exposed a major breach in the security system of the Parliament.
The plea sought an “independent, credible and impartial” Judicial investigation under the supervision of a Retired Supreme Court Judge into the incident.

“The petition seeks judicial intervention in the matter of major security breach coinciding with the Anniversary of the 2001 Parliament attack when two men carrying smoke canisters on December 13 gained unauthorised entry into the lower house of Parliament resulting thereby a huge damage caused to the reputation of the nation in the world,” the plea stated.

During Zero Hour, two individuals, Sagar Sharma and Manoranjan D, leaped from the public gallery into the Lok Sabha chamber, unleashed yellow gas from canisters, and yelled anti-establishment slogans before being overpowered by the MPs. Neelam (42) and Amol (25) demonstrated outside the parliament in a different incident, carrying identical gas canisters. On December 14, however, all four were placed under the seven-day supervision of the Delhi Police Special Cell.

Parliament security breach: Opposition MPs insist on Amit Shah’s remarks on Parliament security breach

December 18, 2023, 2:01 pm

The Union Home Minister, Amit Shah, was pressed on Monday by opposition MPs to provide a statement regarding the security breach in Parliament. Priyanka Chaturvedi, a member of the Shiv Sena (UBT), stated that Shah ought to visit the Parliament and disclose the security breach in the nation’s “safest building” after the opposition’s cacophonous agitation caused both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha to adjourn until 2:00 pm. “If the safest building in the nation has a security breach, who is accountable for it?” Priyanka Chaturvedi asked in an interview with ANI. The decision regarding who is accountable for all of this will fall to Union Home Minister Amit Shah. He ought to enter Parliament and make the announcement.

Raghav Chadha, AAP Rajya Sabha MP said that the opposition parties are just asking that the investigation report be presented in the Parliament.
“…The opposition parties are just asking that the investigation report be presented in the Parliament. And a discussion should be held…The MPs want a statement from Union Home Minister Amit Shah and then a discussion can be held. The way the government is running from this issue, raises a lot of questions as to what they are hiding,” he said.
Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi said, “Union Home Minister Amit Shah is afraid of speaking inside Parliament and that is why he is commenting on it in media….It is a blot on the record of the Home Minister that under his watch this temple of democracy was attacked and he can’t avoid scrutiny forever.”

Speaker Birla Expresses Dismay at Exploitation of Parliament Security breach incident

December 18, 2023, 12:17 pm

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla addressed members on Monday, revealing that a high-level committee is actively investigating the security breach incident on December 13. Expressing his distress over the “politicization” of the issue, the Speaker clarified that the suspension of certain opposition members was unrelated to the breach but stemmed from their act of bringing placards into the House.

During the Question Hour, Speaker Birla emphasized that the security of Parliament falls under the jurisdiction of the Lok Sabha secretariat. He assured members that the high-level committee, tasked with probing the incident, has already initiated its investigation. Several suggestions from the all-party meeting to bolster Parliament’s security have been implemented, he added.

Continuing his address, Speaker Birla pledged to keep members informed and sought their cooperation. “It is regrettable that politics is being played on this issue,” he stated, condemning the disruption of the House’s decorum with slogans and members entering the Well. He urged the opposition to collaborate and engage in discussions on crucial matters.

Meanwhile, opposition parties are pressing for a statement from Home Minister Amit Shah concerning the December 13 security breach. Despite the Speaker’s call for order, the ongoing protest by members prompted him to adjourn the House until 12 noon. The demand for accountability and the fallout from the breach continue to dominate parliamentary proceedings.

Parliament security breach: Floor leaders of INDIA bloc meet in Parliament, demand statement

December 18, 2023, 12:04 pm

The floor leaders of the opposition’s INDIA bloc convened on Monday before the 11th day of the ongoing Winter Session of Parliament began. Meeting in the chamber of Rajya Sabha Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge, the members of the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance deliberated on a plan to corner the Centre in both houses. Prominent figures such as Farooq Abdullah, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, Jairam Ramesh, and Ramgopal Yadav were present at the meeting. Since two people carrying gas canisters leaped into the Lok Sabha from the visitors’ gallery, causing panic inside the House, the opposition members are requesting a statement from Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge reiterated the demand for a statement from Home Minister Amit Shah in the House.
Hitting out at the BJP-led central government over the massive security breach, the Congress President said that the BJP leaders are not ready to let the House function.
“It is a serious issue and the government should pay attention to it. We are repeatedly saying in Parliament that the Union Home Minister should come to the House and give a statement but he does not want to come. They (BJP) are not ready to let the House function. This is not a good thing for democracy but there is no point in talking to people who do not believe in democracy,” Kharge told.

The INDIA bloc is anticipated to maintain the pressure on the matter for a few days. The bloc suffered a setback when its 14 MPs—13 in the Lok Sabha and 1 in the Rajya Sabha—were suspended for the balance of the Winter Session for causing a disturbance inside their respective Houses while demanding Shah’s statement.

Union Minister Giriraj Singh Promises Clarity on Parliament Security Breach Conspiracy

December 18, 2023, 11:42 am

Union Minister and Begusarai MP Giriraj Singh criticized Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s remarks on the recent security breach at Parliament. Singh asserted that the truth behind the incident would be revealed through a thorough investigation and drew parallels to the farmers’ protest, alleging the involvement of a “toolkit gang” in the breach.

Singh, known for his outspoken views, accused Rahul Gandhi of tarnishing the nation’s image and drew attention to Gandhi’s past actions, including visiting JNU after the hanging of Afzal Guru and delivering speeches during the farmers’ protest.

The Union Minister expressed confidence in the ongoing investigation into the Parliament attack, asserting that the conspiracy would be unveiled, akin to the exposure of the toolkit creators during the farmers’ protest.

Taking a swipe at the Nitish Kumar government, Singh claimed a lack of law and order in Bihar, criticizing the state’s governance and alleging corruption of Hindu beliefs through the consumption of Halal meat. He urged Hindu brothers to abstain from Halal meat and advocated for the exclusive consumption of jhatka meat to preserve Hindu rituals.

Singh further accused the Bihar government and the RJD of failing to maintain law and order, highlighting sacrificial activities on roadsides and the cooking of Halal meat affecting Hindu customs. He called for separate slaughterhouses for Halal meat to address the cleanliness and ritual concerns.

Turning his attention to political rivals, Singh criticized the INDI alliance, challenging Bihar CM Nitish Kumar to contest against PM Modi in Varanasi. He dismissed the alliance as a cover-up for alleged crimes committed by its leaders.

Rahul Gandhi, on the other hand, attributed the Parliament security breach to ‘unemployment’ and ‘inflation,’ blaming the policies of the BJP-led Centre during a statement to reporters. The incident occurred on December 13 when two individuals breached security and set off smoke canisters inside the Lok Sabha during the 22nd-anniversary commemoration of the 2001 terror attack on Parliament.

Rahul Gandhi Links Parliament Security Breach to Unemployment and Inflation

December 16, 2023, 3:38 pm

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi attributed the recent Parliament security breach to issues of unemployment and inflation. He claimed that the incident was a direct consequence of the youth not finding jobs due to Prime Minister Modi’s policies. Gandhi made these remarks while addressing reporters, highlighting the economic challenges faced by the country.

Additionally, senior Congress leader KC Venugopal addressed the media, asserting that it was the Delhi Police, under Union Home Minister Amit Shah, that labelled the security breach as a terror attack. He argued that the opposition did not politicize the incident but raised concerns about the evident security lapse.

Venugopal questioned the suspension of 13 Congress MPs, along with Trinamool Congress Rajya Sabha MP Derek O’Brien, from the ongoing Winter Session, emphasizing that members in the opposition were being penalized for raising their voices against the government.

The Special Cell of Delhi Police previously informed the Patiala House Court that the mastermind, Lalit Jha, revealed that the accused in the security breach incident had multiple meetings and planned the conspiracy. Lalit Jha reportedly stated that the intention was to create anarchy in the country to force the government to meet their demands. The court granted seven days of custodial remand for the four accused persons in connection with the security breach.

Parliament security breach: Police examining CDRs and CCTV footage, depending on technical and electronic evidences

December 15, 2023, 1:24 pm

Investigators are now primarily depending on electronic and technical evidence as the Parliament security breach case moves forward. While watching the CCTV footage of the surrounding areas of Parliament, India Gate, and Vijay Chowk, police are also scanning the call data records (CDR) of all the accused and suspects. Police are comparing the inconsistencies in the accused’s statements with CCTV footage in an effort to determine if there were five or more accused present at the time of the incident.

Apart from that, the police are also looking into turning Vicky, alias Vishal, living in Gurugram, a government witness. Vicky is the person whose house was used by the five accused for their stay for two days ahead of the incident.
So, Vicky can be an important witness for the police in this case. And after being released from police detention, Vicky is said to have largely distanced himself from the media and other people.
Meanwhile, the Special Cell of Delhi Police has detained two more people following their suspected association with five arrested in the case.
The detained persons are identified as Mahesh and Kailash, both residents of Rajasthan and have an alleged association with a social media group called ‘Justice for Azad Bhagat Singh’.

Parliament Security Breach: Opposition MPs protest in Parliament premises, demand action against BJP’s Pratap Simha

December 15, 2023, 11:49 am

Action against BJP MP Pratap Simha in relation to the security breach incident was demanded by a number of opposition parliamentarians during a protest on Friday in front of the Gandhi Statue on Parliament grounds. It read, “Nation wants to know why no action is taken against BJP MP Simha,” on placards that opposition members were waving. Some signs said, “Democracy under siege” and “Why PM and HM are silent.” At the demonstration were Manickam Tagore, a suspended Congress MP, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, the leader of the Congress in the Lok Sabha, and a number of other opposition lawmakers.

MP Simha faces opposition scrutiny over allegations of providing Parliament passes to individuals responsible for triggering panic in the Lok Sabha with smoke canisters.
Earlier, 14 MPs were suspended on Thursday. but later, Pralhad Joshi clarified that one member was mistakenly included in the list of MPs suspended.
Following his clarification, a formal request was made to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla to exclude one member, who wasn’t present at the Well of the Lower House during the disruption, from the list of suspended MPs.

As a result, the number of lawmakers suspended was changed from 14 Lok Sabha MPs to 13, as was previously incorrectly stated. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi moved the motion to suspend nine opposition MPs: Benny Behanan, VK Sreekandan, Mohammad Jawed, PR Natarajan, Kanimozhi Karunanidhi, K Subrahmanyam, SR Parthiban, S Venkatesan, and Manickam Tagore. Members of the opposition are demonstrating against the security breach incident at Parliament and have called for Home Minister Amit Shah to address both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha.

Mastermind Behind Parliament Security Breach Attempts to Erase Evidence: Lalit Jha Destroys Associates Mobile Phones

December 15, 2023, 10:09 am

In a startling turn of events in the Parliament security breach case, Lalit Jha, identified as the mastermind and the fifth accused, allegedly burned the mobile phones of his associates, including his friend Mahesh, upon reaching Kuchaman in Rajasthan, according to police sources. This strategic move aimed to prevent crucial investigation details from falling into police hands, as all four accused had previously handed over their phones to Jha in anticipation of their impending arrest.

Jha, who captured videos of two accomplices outside the Parliament with the intent to publicize them, fled to Kuchaman where he met Mahesh, a connection made through Facebook, as revealed during Jha’s interrogation. Delhi police, however, are rigorously verifying the claims made by Jha.

Before Jha’s arrest, Delhi police, utilizing technical surveillance, detained Mahesh’s cousin Kailash, who disclosed that Jha and Mahesh had gone to Delhi. Upon Jha’s return, he voluntarily went to the police station, leading to his arrest and subsequent interrogation.

Meanwhile, Delhi’s Patiala House Court granted seven days of custodial remand for the four other accused, Manoranjan D, Sagar Sharma, Amol Dhanraj Shinde, and Neelam Devi. Additional Sessions Judge Dr Hardeep Kaur permitted investigations in Mumbai, Mysore, and Lucknow to unveil the motives behind their actions.

The Delhi Police asserted that the accused had meticulously planned the attack on the Parliament, alleging that they purchased special shoes from Lucknow and canisters from Mumbai. Furthermore, police lawyers revealed that the accused carried a pamphlet declaring Prime Minister Modi as a missing person, promising a reward from the Swiss Bank to anyone who found him. The court was informed that an FIR had been registered under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, along with stringent sections 16 (terrorism) and 18 (conspiracy for terrorism) of the UAPA Act.

Parliament security breach: LoP Kharge writes to Rajya Sabha chairman Dhankhar, seeks Amit Shah’s statement

December 14, 2023, 8:02 pm

Mallikarjun Kharge, the leader of the opposition in the Rajya Sabha and national president of the Congress, wrote to Jagdeep Dhankhar, the chairman of the Upper House, on Thursday regarding the significant security breach that occurred in the new Parliament complex on Wednesday. The LoP in the Upper House demanded that Union Home Minister Amit Shah make a statement on the matter, after which a discussion should take place in accordance with Rule 267. In his letter to Vice President Dhankhar, the LoP classified the breach in Parliament security as a serious matter.

“The breach of Parliament security which occurred on 13th December 2023 in the Lok Sabha Chamber and the Parliament precincts is a very grave matter unparalleled in the recent past. In view of the gravity of the matter, myself in consultation with floor leaders of INDIA Parties in Parliament have come to a considered view that the matter is of such a critical importance that it needs to be raised under Rule 267 of the Rules and Procedure of Council of States (Rajya Sabha),” Kharge wrote in his letter.

“Further, till the Minister of Home Affairs makes a statement on this matter followed by a discussion under Rule 267, there is no occasion for taking up any other business in the House or even for any meeting to “sort out this matter” in any other manner,” he stated.
Earlier in the day, Opposition leaders met in the chamber of the LoP, Rajya Sabha to discuss the Parliament security breach.

Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, a Congress MP, told reporters on Thursday that members of the opposition chose to bring up the security breach in both Houses. Before relocating the members to the new parliament building, appropriate security measures ought to have been put in place. Not a word from the PM or the Home Minister in spite of this massive security breach. There ought to be a conversation about this.

Parliament security breach: Delhi Police Special Cell gets 7-day remand of four accused individuals

December 14, 2023, 7:30 pm

Delhi Police declared on Thursday that there was a “well-planned conspiracy” behind the incident, despite opposition members raising a ruckus in both Houses of Parliament on Wednesday over the significant security breach. The four accused in the security breach case were placed on 15 days of remand by the Patiala House Court, but only seven days were granted to the Special Cell. This was in response to a motion made by Delhi Police. A “attack on the Parliament of India,” according to Delhi Police, who described the security breach as the result of a “well-planned conspiracy.”

The four accused persons — Neelam, Amol, Sagar Sharma and Manoranjan — were produced before the Patiala House Court while Delhi Police filed a remand plea.
Sharing details of the incident, in which two unidentified men jumped into the Lok Sabha during the Zero Hour from the visitors’ gallery and set off smoke cans that they hid in their shoes, Delhi Police stated in an official release, “All accused yesterday entered the Parliament using visitor passes and jumped from the gallery, which resulted in the hindrance during the Parliament proceedings.”
“They used smoke canisters which they carried into the parliament veiled in their shoes,” the police added.

The police attorney made the following submission during the trial: “The accused brought a leaflet listing Prime Minister Narendra Modi as missing and promising a cash reward from the Swiss bank to anyone who finds him. The accused presented the Prime Minister as a declared criminal. According to the police plea, the accused must be brought to Lucknow, Mumbai, and Mysore for questioning while in custody. As we require their custodial interrogation, Delhi Police said in its plea that “we need them to take to Lucknow, Mumbai, and Mysore.”

Parliament security breach mastermind still on the run; group had six members

December 14, 2023, 1:07 pm

There were six people involved in the massive security breach in Parliament on Wednesday (13 December 2023) out of whom one is still on the run. Delhi Police officials suspect the sixth person still out of their reach is the mastermind of the entire operation. He has been identified as Lalit Jha, a resident of Kolkata and a teacher by profession.

Several police teams have been formed to trace and arrest Lalit. They have also raided a few places where he was suspected to have stayed in the last few days.

However, security and intelligence agencies have till now found no connection of those involved in breaching Parliament’s sceurity of having any links with any terror group.

All six conspitrators came to know each other through a Bhagat Singh fan page on Facebook. Lalit, Sagar Sharma, and Maoranjan D met in Mysore in 2022 and hatched the plan to enter Parliament. They were later on joined by Neelam and Amol.

According to Delhi Police, Lalit conceived the entire plan and gave tasks to the others. He directed Manoranjan to go to Delhi and study all the entry points of Parliament. Manoranjan did as instructed diuring Parliament’s Monsoon Session in mid 2023.

Lalit came with the four others to Parliament on Wednesday. But only Sagar Sharma and Manioranjan D could get the visitors pass after which Lalit took their mobile phones and left Parliament building with Neelam and Amol.

The gas cannister were procured by Amol from Kalyan in Maharashtra. While Sagar and Manoranjan went inside the Lok Sabha nd sta in the vistors gallery; Neelam and Amol stationed themselves near Parliament gate. A few minutes later, they opened their gas cannister which started to emit yellow and red coloured gas.

Lalit was based at a distance from where he filmed the entire incident and posted it on his Instagram account. He also sent the same to anothe rmember of the group identified as Vishal Sharma alias Vickey.

Lalit’s last location was traced in Neemrana on the Rajasthan-Haryana Border. Police had earlier said that all five had gathered on December 10 and stayed at Vishal Sharma’s residence in Gurugram.

Neelam, Manoranjan, Amol, and Vishal are in custody and have been questioned by the Delhi Police Special cell and other security agencies.

Parliament Security Breach: Lok Sabha Secretariat suspends eight security members

December 14, 2023, 11:57 am

The security lapses that resulted in a major security breach in Parliament on Wednesday led to the suspension of eight security personnel by the Lok Sabha secretariat on Thursday. The anniversary of the 2001 terror attack on Parliament coincided with the security lapse. Sagar Sharma and Manoranjan D., two individuals, leaped from the public gallery into the Lok Sabha chamber during Zero Hour, spewed slogans and let loose yellow gas canisters before being overpowered by the MPs. Amidst the security breach, Prime Minister Narendra Modi convened with senior ministers within the Parliament building. While calling for statements to be made in both houses are the opposition leaders.

The Lok Sabha was adjourned till 2pm amid sloganeering by Opposition MPs over Wednesday’s security breach incident. The opposition MPs also demanded the resignation of Union Home Minister Amit Shah over the incident.
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla said “all of us are concerned” about what happened in the House yesterday. The security of the House is the responsibility of Lok Sabha Secretariat.
Congress MP Manickam Tagore said, “It is an intelligence failure and we hope for a fair investigation of the matter… Home Minister Amit Shah must answer, as the Delhi Police and all security agencies report to him. He cannot run away from this responsibility… BJP MP Mr. Simha provided passes to these culprits, there is a very deep conspiracy behind this and he must not be left unpunished.”

Parliament Security Breach: 8 On-Duty Staff Suspended from Lok Sabha

December 14, 2023, 11:14 am

Parliament security breach: Congress to stage protest against BJP MP Pratap Simha in Mysore and Bengaluru

December 14, 2023, 10:52 am

Congress workers will stage protest against BJP MP Pratap Simha in Mysore and Bengaluru. The opposition is questioning Simha over claims that he gave Parliament passes to people who used smoke canisters to incite panic in the Lok Sabha. Jairam Ramesh, the general secretary in charge of communications for the Congress, claimed that the BJP was attempting to deflect attention from the fact that BJP MP Pratap Simha had granted the intruders access to the Parliament.

In a post on X Jairam Ramesh said, “BJP IT Cell desperately wants to divert attention from 2 facts. There was a very serious breach in the security of Parliament. The intruders who breached Lok Sabha security in a shocking manner had been given access to the Parliament by Pratap Simha, BJP MP from Mysuru.”

Earlier, in response to the Wednesday security breach in the Lower House of Parliament, Congressmen staged a protest in front of the office of BJP MP Pratap Simha in Mysuru, Karnataka. Police later arrested the demonstrators. The opposition had earlier claimed that the Mysuru-Kodagu MP had given passes to the two people who had breached security in the Lok Sabha earlier today, and they had demanded that the MP be removed from the House.

UBT Sena MP Priyanka Chaturvedi said the BJP was trying to blame the opposition insted of addressing a serious issue.
“Such arrogance and silly assertions. Instead of looking at the problem as a serious security breach there is an attempt to somehow dump the blame on the opposition. – Didn’t know opposition was responsible for parliament security – Didn’t know that Pratap Simha had anything to do with opposition – Didn’t know this new parliament was designed by the opposition benches” the UBT Sena MP said.

Parliament security breach: All-party meeting called by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla

December 13, 2023, 4:08 pm

Speaker Om Birla of the Lok Sabha has convened a meeting of floor leaders from various political parties on Wednesday to discuss the concerns raised by all parties regarding the incident involving the security breach in Parliament. We’ve called a meeting for today at 4:00 PM. The House’s security breach is currently the subject of a comprehensive investigation, according to the Speaker.

“A thorough investigation of the incident that took place during zero hour, is being done. Essential instructions have also been given to Delhi Police. In the primary investigation, it has been found that that there is no need to worry about the smoke,” he said.”Both of them have been nabbed and the materials with them have also been seized. The two people outside the Parliament have also been arrested by Police,” he added.
On the 22nd anniversary of the Parliament terror attack, there was a major security breach when two intruders entered the Lok Sabha chamber from the visitor gallery during Zero Hour.

In a security breach in Lok Sabha, two men jumped into the House from the visitor’s gallery and had canisters in their hand, Congress MP Karti Chidambaram said.
They released yellow gas from canisters and shouted slogans before being overpowered by MPs.
Visuals showed an unidentified man jumping from the visitor’s gallery of Lok Sabha after which there was a slight commotion. The House was adjourned till 2 pm.
The incident happened when members were raising matters of urgent public importance and BJP MP Khagen Murmu was raising his issue.
Simultaneously, two individuals, including a woman, sprayed colored gas and shouted slogans outside the Parliament premises.