In a significant development in the Parliament security breach case, the Delhi court has placed the sixth accused, Mahesh Kumawat, under a seven-day police custody. This case, which has captured the nation’s attention, revolves around a meticulously orchestrated conspiracy to disrupt the parliamentary proceedings, a plan that was allegedly in the works for nearly two years.
Also read-Mukhtar Ansari Receives Jail Sentence; UP Assures Supreme Court Of His Safety (lawchakra.in)
Public Prosecutor Akhand Pratap Singh, representing the Delhi Police, presented a compelling argument before Additional Sessions Judge Hardeep Kaur at the Patiala House Courts. Singh stated,
“The ‘conspiracy’ was going on for nearly two years and ‘conspirators’ held meetings in Delhi, Gurgaon, and Mysore.”
He further added,
“They wanted to create a situation of anarchy to get their illegal demands met. Look at the time they chose – when Parliament session was going on.”
The focus of the investigation is Mahesh Kumawat, who is believed to have worked closely with the alleged ‘mastermind’ Lalit Jha in destroying evidence. The prosecution, seeking a 15-day custody, was granted seven days by the court. Singh elaborated on Kumawat’s role, saying,
“Kumawat was involved with ‘mastermind’ Lalit Jha in destruction of evidence.”
The incident that brought this case to light occurred on December 13, during the Lok Sabha proceedings. Sagar Sharma and Manoranjan D, the first two accused, were apprehended after they entered the chamber from the visitors’ gallery with smoke-emitting canisters. Following this, two more individuals, Amol Shinde and Neelam, were arrested outside the Parliament, where they were protesting with yellow smoke. Lalit Jha, the alleged ‘mastermind’, was arrested by the police on December 14.
The prosecution revealed a significant detail about the group’s formation, stating that Kumawat had allegedly connected with Jha and others through a Facebook group called ‘Bhagat Singh Fan Page’, which is now deleted. This detail points to the use of social media in organizing and executing their plan.
Legal Aid Counsel Suresh Sisodia, representing Kumawat, raised concerns about the arrest process. He submitted before the court,
“Kumawat was not informed why he was arrested.”
Addressing the language barrier, Kumawat informed the court,
“The FIR is in English, a language he does not understand because he has only studied till Class IX.”
However, the prosecution contested these claims, asserting that the police had adequately explained the reasons for his arrest.
In a related development, the parents of Neelam Azad, another accused, sought permission to meet their daughter. They reported being made to wait for five hours when trying to meet officials from the special cell to request a meeting with Neelam.
This case has not only highlighted the vulnerabilities in Parliament’s security but also raised questions about the motivations and methods of the accused. The ongoing investigation continues to delve deeper into the conspiracy, attempting to unravel the full extent of the planning and coordination behind this audacious breach.
