Parliamentary security breach: Delhi court grants Police more time to probe

A Delhi court on Thursday granted the Delhi Police more time to complete its investigation into the Parliamentary security breach incident. The matter is registered under the stringent section of UAPA (Unlawful activities (prevention) Act) 1967. The custody of all the six accused has also been extended till May 25.

Special Judge Hardeep Kaur has granted the special cell of Delhi Police 30 more days to finish their investigation. The Delhi Police had requested an extension, asking for an additional 45 days to complete their work.

During the proceedings, accused Manoranjan was allowed to communicate with his mother through video conferencing. Neelam Azad, another accused, did not object to extending the investigation period.

Previously, on March 11, the court had already extended the investigation time by 45 days. Furthermore, the court has also extended the Judicial Custody of all accused individuals by another 30 days. The accused were all present in court physically.

Earlier, the court had denied bail to Neelam Azad, mentioning the serious nature of the charges against her and the early stage of the investigation. The First Information Report (FIR) in this case includes charges under several sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA). The probe is still in its early phases, and the allegations against Neelam Azad and others are severe, related to undermining India’s sovereignty and integrity.

In the previous hearing on January 16, the Delhi Police furnished evidence implicating Neelam Azad in the crime, arguing against her release on bail due to the pending investigation. Notably, the accused individuals are described as influential, and their release on bail could hinder the probe. Additionally, the seriousness of the offense and the potential punishment are also factors considered in bail decisions.

The matter revolves around a breach of security at Parliament on December 13, 2023, which occurred on the anniversary of the 2001 Parliament attack. At present, all six suspects are in judicial custody.