Delhi High Court Grants Bail to Neelam Azad and Mahesh Kumawat in Parliament Security Breach Case

lakshmi180592
Jul 2
2 min read

In a significant update related to the 2023 Parliament security breach, the Delhi High Court on Wednesday granted bail to Neelam Azad and Mahesh Kumawat, who were arrested in connection with the incident.

The order was passed by a bench of Justice Subramonium Prasad and Justice Harish Vaidyanathan Shankar.

Bail Conditions Set by the Court:

While granting bail, the Court imposed certain strict conditions:

Bail granted on a ₹50,000 surety bond.
The accused must not give interviews or make any public statement related to the case, including on social media.
They cannot leave Delhi during the investigation.
They must report to the investigating agency every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.

Background: The 2023 Parliament Security Breach:

The case is related to an incident that took place on December 13, 2023, when a few individuals breached Parliament's security. During a session of the Lok Sabha, two accused—Sagar Sharma and Manoranjan D—entered the chamber from the visitors’ gallery and released smoke canisters.

At the same time, Neelam Azad and Amol Shinde were protesting outside the Parliament building, also releasing colored smoke.

The police later arrested Lalit Jha, who is said to be the main conspirator, and Mahesh Kumawat, another alleged participant in the plot.

What Azad Argued in Court:

Neelam Azad claimed that:

She was not involved in any terrorist conspiracy.
Her aim was to raise awareness about unemployment and other social issues.
She is a qualified teacher from Haryana, working in a private school.
She had no intention of causing harm or breaching national security.

Earlier, her habeas corpus petition (a plea challenging her detention) was also rejected by the High Court.

What Happened in Lower Court:

Before coming to the High Court, Azad’s bail plea was rejected by Additional Sessions Judge (ASJ) Hardeep Kaur at the Patiala House Courts.

Following that, she and other accused approached the Delhi High Court to challenge the Special NIA Court’s decision denying them bail.

Final Thoughts:

This case has raised serious concerns about Parliament’s security system, and the investigation is still ongoing. However, the High Court’s decision shows that courts also consider the personal background and intentions of the accused when deciding bail.

The bail of Neelam Azad and Mahesh Kumawat comes with strict monitoring, and both are expected to cooperate fully with the investigation. The case continues to unfold as more details emerge in court.