The Delhi High Court on Monday, while hearing bail pleas of three accused in the December 2023 Parliament security breach case, stressed that proceedings inside the Parliament cannot be disturbed under any circumstances.
A division bench of Justices Vivek Chaudhary and Manoj Jain remarked, “You cannot disturb the Parliament… This message should be sent loud and clear,” while adjourning the hearing to January 15 for further arguments.
The court was considering the bail petitions filed by accused persons — Manoranjan D, Sagar Sharma, and Lalit Jha. During the proceedings, counsel for Manoranjan argued that two other co-accused, Neelam Azad and Mahesh Kumawat, had already been granted bail.
The bench, however, underlined the distinction between demonstrations outside the Parliament and disruptions within it.
The case pertains to a major breach of security on December 13, 2023 — the anniversary of the 2001 Parliament terror attack — when accused Sagar Sharma and Manoranjan D allegedly jumped into the Lok Sabha chamber from the visitors’ gallery during Zero Hour, releasing yellow gas from canisters and raising slogans before being subdued by MPs.
Simultaneously, two others — Amol Shinde and Neelam Azad — were allegedly seen spraying coloured gas outside the Parliament complex while shouting “तानाशाही नहीं चलेगी (dictatorship won’t work).”
While four accused were apprehended from the spot, Lalit Jha and Mahesh Kumawat were arrested later. The matter will now be heard on January 15, 2026.
