In June, Delhi Police filed a comprehensive 1,000-page chargesheet under the UAPA against Neelam Azad and five others involved in the case
Delhi’s Patiala House Court has reserved its order on the bail plea of Neelam Azad, one of the accused in the major security breach at Parliament last year. The court is expected to announce its decision on September 11.
During the hearing, Neelam Azad’s defence team argued that she was not involved in the conspiracy and was not inside Parliament at the time of the incident. Her counsel emphasized that Neelam had no prior criminal record and was only found in possession of a canister, which, they argued, does not equate to terrorist activity. The lawyer further clarified that the smoke emitted from the canister was non-lethal and did not result in any injuries or fatalities.
The defence also highlighted that Neelam has already spent nine months in custody and that the trial process could take a considerable amount of time. They questioned the application of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) in this case, suggesting that the law should not be used against young people in the country who are merely expressing dissent.
On the other side, the Delhi Police strongly opposed the bail plea, arguing that Neelam Azad had participated in three of the five meetings where the entire act was planned. The police also pointed out that the security breach occurred on the anniversary of the 2001 Parliament attack, implying that the timing was not a coincidence but rather a calculated decision. They argued that the definition of a terrorist act should not be limited to incidents resulting in loss of life, particularly in a setting as sensitive as Parliament.
In June, Delhi Police filed a comprehensive 1,000-page chargesheet under the UAPA against Neelam Azad and five others involved in the case. The charges stem from the events of December 13 last year, when two individuals jumped into the Lok Sabha chamber from the public gallery and released yellow smoke canisters, causing panic among Members of Parliament.
The other accused in the case include Manoranjan D, Sagar Sharma, Amol Dhanraj Shinde, Lalit Jha, and Mahesh Kumawat. All six individuals were arrested following the incident, which has since sparked a significant legal battle.
