The Delhi Police has informed the Delhi High Court that the individuals arrested in connection with the Parliament security breach on 13 December 2023 aimed to revive the “haunted memories” of the 2001 Parliament attack inside the newly built and inaugurated Parliament building.
This statement was made by the Delhi Police in their official response while opposing the bail plea of accused Neelam Azad.
"Even though the plans to mount an assault in the Parliament were being deliberated from as early as 2015, by the time the plan came to fruition, the majestic New Parliament building, a symbol of resurgent, revitalized India, had been inaugurated and was functional," the Police said in its affidavit to the High Court.
The Delhi Police highlighted that in a recorded disclosure statement by Neelam Azad, a disturbing reference was made. It was revealed that Manoranjan, one of the main accused, had told Neelam that their actions in the New Parliament would remind people of the traumatic 2001 Parliament attack.
“In a recorded disclosure statement of accused Neelam, there is a sinister reference from Manoranjan that what they were about to do in the New Parliament will bring back haunted memories of something that had taken place in the Old Parliament,” the police stated.
The authorities stated that the incident triggered panic and terror among everyone present in the Parliament building on that day. It further said that for a few moments, the entire nation was stunned by the sudden breach.
The Police said their detailed investigation has clearly shown that Manoranjan and his team were planning a disruptive attack inside the Parliament.
“The incident caused absolute panic and terror amongst all those who were present in the Parliament and the entire Nation, for a few moments, was stunned by the act of the accused persons,” the Police said.
During the investigation, it was found that the accused had invoked the names of national heroes such as Shaheed Bhagat Singh and Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose to present themselves as patriots. However, the Police argued that their understanding of these leaders and their ideologies was only superficial.
“The use of revered patriots and freedom fighters like Shaheed Bhagat Singh, Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose etc., in their digital footprints and sundry discussions, to arrogate patriotism while, as interrogations have revealed, the accused had limited or purely perfunctory knowledge about the philosophies or lives of these great men,” the affidavit read.
The Police also revealed that the accused took significant steps to maintain secrecy, such as using end-to-end encrypted applications like Signal to communicate and hide their plans.
Despite trying to erase digital traces before the act, the group had a clear intention to gain maximum publicity post the incident, said the Police.
In the response, the Police strongly argued that the accused were not personally affected by any of the social or political agendas they claimed to represent. Instead, these were allegedly used to gain attention and gather more supporters.
“Espousing random, disparate and unconnected agendas only as a façade for continuing their search for more and more associates; none of the present accused have been found to have been directly or indirectly affected by any of the agendas they proclaim to have been the cause of their disaffection towards the Constitutionally ordained system of governance of India,” it said.
On 13 December 2023, marking the anniversary of the 2001 Parliament attack, a serious breach of security took place inside the Lok Sabha during the Zero Hour session.
Two individuals, Sagar Sharma and Manoranjan D, jumped into the Lok Sabha chamber from the public gallery. They were seen in various photographs and videos holding canisters emitting yellow smoke while raising slogans.
Several Members of Parliament (MPs) quickly reacted and managed to overpower both men.
At the same time, two other individuals, identified as Amol Shinde and Neelam Azad, sprayed colored gas from similar canisters outside the Parliament premises while shouting anti-authority slogans like "Tanashahi nahi chalegi" (Dictatorship will not be tolerated).
Case Title: MANORANJAN D v. State (Govt. of NCT of Delhi)
