Opposing bail, Delhi Police told the High Court that smuggling inflammable material inside Parliament smoke canisters to terrorise MPs was intolerable and dangerous. Police said Manoranjan D and Sagar Sharma were lead conspirators whose acts triggered live chaos nationwide.
NEW DELHI: Opposing the bail applications of three defendants involved in the 2023 Parliament security breach case, police argued in the Delhi High Court that bringing inflammable materials into the Parliament within smoke canisters and “terrorising the minds” of the parliamentarians is unacceptable.
The counsel for the Delhi Police asserted that Manoranjan D and Sagar Sharma were the “lead players” in a “high-level” conspiracy, and their actions incited chaos that was broadcast live.
A bench comprising Justices Prathiba M Singh and Sudha Jain was reviewing the bail requests of Manoranjan D, Sharma, and Lalit Jha.
Emphasizing the threat to the nation’s sovereignty and integrity,the police counsel stated,
“They terrorised the minds of the parliamentarians, the staff, and those watching,”
The lawyer further indicated that the pamphlets carried by the accused contained an “open threat” to the prime minister and demonstrated their intention to “usurp power.” The use of smoke canisters filled with inflammatory material and their invasion of the Parliament should not be tolerated, he argued.
Moreover, he expressed concerns that if released, the accused could influence essential witnesses who are yet to be examined or evade the trial altogether.
On the other hand, the senior counsel for the accused pointed out that the high court had already granted bail to two co-defendants. He urged the court to extend similar relief to his three clients, arguing that the trial would likely be prolonged as even the charges had not yet been framed.
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Upon learning that the trial court was set to address the case on February 6, the bench indicated it would revisit the matter on March 17, stating,
“Let’s see if charges are framed.”
The senior defense lawyer reiterated that while the Parliament is regarded as the temple of democracy and their mode of “protest” may have been misguided, it should be recognized that they are not terrorists and no one was harmed.
In a significant security incident on the anniversary of the 2001 Parliament terror attack, accused Sagar Sharma and Manoranjan D purportedly jumped into the Lok Sabha chamber from the public gallery during Zero Hour on December 13, 2023, releasing yellow gas from canisters and shouting slogans before being subdued by some MPs.
At the same time, two other accused, Amol Shinde and Neelam Azad, reportedly sprayed colored gas from canisters while chanting “tanashahi nahi chalegi” outside the Parliament premises.
The Delhi Police registered the FIR the day after the incident, citing sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Unlawful Activities Act.
Accused Neelam Azad and Mahesh Kumawat received bail from the high court in July 2025.