Parliament security breach: Delhi HC to hear accused bail plea on April 29

NEW DELHI The Delhi High Court set April 29 to hear Neelam Azad's bail application, the only woman accused in the 2023 Parliament security breach case. A panel comprising Justices Subramonium Prasad and Harish Vaidyanathan Shankar said it will next consider Azad's bail application, as well as a similar petition filed by co-accused Manoranjan D.

During a brief hearing, the high court requested the police to explain on the next date whether carrying or deploying a non-lethal smoke canister is covered by the strict Unlawful Activities Act for terrorist activities. On the anniversary of the 2001 Parliament terror attack, suspects Sagar Sharma and Manoranjan D allegedly stormed into the Lok Sabha chamber from the public gallery during zero hour, releasing yellow gas from canisters and sloganeering before being apprehended by some MPs.

The court stated that if a readily available smoke canister would attract UA, people would commit this violation every Holi, as well as at Indian Premier League matches. "You take instructions on this and address us.... this canister of smoke, which is widely available in the market, does not come under the four corners to attract UA." If this is the case, everyone will be charged with this offense throughout every Holi. Every IPL match will draw UA," the bench stated.