Delhi Assembly Security Breach: Accused Has Bipolar Disorder, Court Told
New Delhi: A 37-year-old man who breached security at the Delhi Assembly complex in April this year suffers from bipolar disorder, his counsel informed a Delhi court on Monday.
Advocate Anshul Shukla, representing Sarabjit Singh, filed an application under the Mental Health Care Act, 2017, seeking directions to constitute a medical board to examine his client. The court, presided over by Additional Sessions Judge Ankur Jain of Tis Hazari Court, allowed the plea and ordered the formation of a medical board to assess Singh's mental condition.
Singh had driven his SUV through the VIP gate of the Delhi Assembly complex on April 6, triggering a security scare. He was arrested on charges of attempt to murder, assault on public servants, and other offences under the Indian Penal Code and the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act.
The Mental Health Care Act, 2017, provides for the rights and protections of persons with mental illness, including the requirement of a medical board to determine the mental state of an accused. According to the World Health Organisation, bipolar disorder is a mental health condition characterised by alternating manic and depressive episodes, affecting mood, energy, activity, and thought.
The court's direction comes as the investigation into the security breach continues. The prosecution has not yet commented on the claim of bipolar disorder. The medical board's report will be crucial in determining Singh's legal responsibility and appropriate course of action.
This case highlights the intersection of mental health and criminal justice, raising questions about how the legal system addresses individuals with mental illnesses who are accused of crimes.
