“Why December 13? It’s No Mere Coincidence,” Delhi HC on 2023 Parliament Security Breach

New Delhi: The Delhi High Court expressed surprise over the choice of 13 December 2023 by the accused in the Parliament security breach case—a date coinciding with the 2001 Parliament attack. The bench observed that this could hardly be a mere coincidence, despite the accused claiming their actions were a protest against unemployment.

Court Hearing and Observations

The bench, comprising Justice Pratibha M. Singh and Justice Madhu Jain, was hearing the bail petitions of accused Manoranjan D., Sagar Sharma, and Lalit Jha under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). During proceedings, the court questioned Manoranjan’s lawyer on how the accused entered the Parliament premises. The lawyer replied that the accused staged a protest to highlight unemployment issues.

When asked about the significance of the date, the lawyer denied any link between the 2001 attack and the 2023 incident. Justice Singh remarked that the fact both incidents occurred on 13 December could not be coincidental.

Defense Arguments

Senior Advocate K.K. Menon, representing Manoranjan, argued that the software engineer had no connection with the earlier attack. He admitted the method chosen for the protest was wrong but stressed that the accused had not been charged definitively for the past two years. Menon also drew parallels with India’s freedom struggle, noting that historically, people were not detained indefinitely without charges.

The bench referred to the recent Gulfisha Fatima vs State Supreme Court verdict on the definition of terrorist acts, asking both parties to consider the judgment in framing their arguments. The next hearing is scheduled for 2 February 2026. Last July, a coordinated bench had granted bail to co-accused Neelam Azad and Mahesh Kumawat.

Security Breach Details

The incident occurred on the anniversary of the 2001 Parliament attack. During zero hour, two individuals jumped from the public gallery into the Lok Sabha chamber. They were identified as Sagar Sharma and Manoranjan D. Photos and videos on social media showed them carrying canisters releasing yellow gas while shouting slogans. Some MPs managed to restrain them.

Two other accused, Amol Shinde and Neelam Azad, released colored gas canisters outside the Parliament complex in a similar manner. The incident highlighted serious lapses in Parliament security, raising concerns about the safety of lawmakers and the facility.