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Synopsis

In a significant development related to the security breach at Parliament on December 13, the Delhi Police informed a sessions court on Thursday that four individuals, booked under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) for their involvement in the incident, had posted on social media declaring Prime Minister Narendra Modi a 'proclaimed offender.'

The Assistant Public Prosecutor (APP), Atul Srivastava, presented this information during the court proceedings.

The accused, who were unrepresented, were provided legal aid counsel as they faced charges under the UAPA.

The court, presided over by Additional Sessions Judge Hardeep Kaur, subsequently remanded the four individuals to seven days of police custody.

During the proceedings, APP Srivastava referenced social media posts where the accused depicted Prime Minister Modi as a 'missing' person and announced a reward from a Swiss bank for information leading to his discovery. "He has been shown like a proclaimed offender," the APP submitted.

Earlier in the week, during Lok Sabha proceedings, two individuals, identified as Sagar Sharma and Manoranjan D, were apprehended by the Delhi Police for allegedly entering the chamber from the visitors' gallery with canisters emitting smoke. Meanwhile, Amol Shinde and Neelam were arrested outside the Parliament, reportedly protesting with yellow smoke.

APP Srivastava informed the court that the case was initiated based on a complaint from the Deputy Director of Parliament Security. 

The Delhi Police disclosed that the accused had ingeniously created a cavity in their shoes to conceal the gas canisters used in the breach. Seeking a 15-day remand, the prosecution argued that the accused had posted incriminating content on social media, highlighting their intent.

Furthermore, the prosecutor revealed that the accused had formed a group named 'Bhagat Singh Fan Club' and had purchased the shoes from Lucknow and the gas canisters from Mumbai.

The police sought permission to take the accused to Mumbai and Lucknow for further investigation, a plea that was granted by the court.

In response, the counsel for the accused contended that a four- or five-day remand would suffice for the required investigations. After considering the arguments from both sides, the court ultimately granted seven days of police custody for all four accused individuals.