Neelam Azad, one of the five accused in the Parliament security breach case, has been denied bail by an additional sessions judge in Delhi. Judge Hardeep Kaur cited the serious nature of the allegations against Azad and the early stage of the investigation as reasons for denying her bail plea.
Azad had challenged her arrest, alleging violation of Article 22 of the Constitution due to being produced before the court 29 hours after her arrest. The court, however, found no merit in this argument, stating that Azad was only arrested after obtaining the court's consent and was presented within 24 hours of the court granting permission.
The defense also argued that Azad was denied the right to choose her own legal representation from the District Legal Services Authority (DLSA). The court rejected this claim as well, highlighting that Azad, along with the other co-accused, initially declined private counsel and opted for assistance from the DLSA lawyer present in court.
Azad was arrested along with Sagar Sharma, Manoranjan D, and Amol Shinde for their alleged involvement in the December 13th Parliament security breach. Sharma and D are accused of breaching the Lok Sabha security by jumping over three layers of security and spraying colored smoke inside the chamber. Azad and Shinde, according to reports, protested outside the Parliament building with similar gas canisters before being apprehended.
The four accused claimed their actions were to draw attention to issues like inflation and poverty. The incident, coinciding with the anniversary of the 2001 Parliament attack, raised concerns about security lapses and potential vulnerabilities.
The accused face charges under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), including 120B (criminal conspiracy), 452 (trespass), 186 (obstructing public servants in discharge of functions), 353 (assault or criminal force on a public servant), 452 (mischief), 153 (promoting enmity between groups), and 34 (common intention).
The denial of bail to Azad leaves all five accused currently in custody. With the investigation still ongoing, further developments in the case are expected in the coming weeks.
Key Points:
- Neelam Azad, one of the accused in the Parliament security breach case, denied bail.
- Bail denied due to serious nature of charges and early stage of investigation.
- Court rejects accusations of illegal arrest and forced legal representation.
- All five accused currently in custody facing UAPA and IPC charges.
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