Delhi Court Grants Interim Bail to Parliament Breach Accused After Father’s Death
A Delhi court has granted one month interim bail to Sagar Sharma, one of the accused in the December 2023 Parliament security breach case, on humanitarian grounds following the death of his father.
Additional Sessions Judge Amit Bansal of the Patiala House Courts allowed the plea after Mr. Sharma informed the court that his father died of cancer on July 14. As the only male member of his family, he was required to perform the last rites and related rituals.
The court explicitly stated that the interim bail was granted solely on humanitarian considerations and should not be interpreted as a comment on the merits of the case. The Delhi Police did not oppose the application.
As part of the bail conditions, the court directed Mr. Sharma not to interact with the media through interviews or press conferences. He is also restrained from posting any content related to the Parliament security breach on social media during the period of interim bail.
The security breach occurred on December 13, 2023, when Mr. Sharma and another individual, Manoranjan D, jumped into the Lok Sabha chamber from the visitors’ gallery during Zero Hour, carrying canisters that emitted yellow smoke. The smoke spread through the House, causing chaos. The two were caught by MPs and handed over to police.
Subsequently, police arrested Neelam Azad, Amol Dhanraj Shinde, Lalit Jha, and Mahesh Kumawat. The police have invoked anti-terror provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act against the accused, maintaining that the breach was a 'well planned conspiracy'.