Parliament Security Breach: Delhi court extends custodial remand of 'mastermind' Lalit Jha till 5 January

The Patiala House Court in Delhi, on Friday, has extended the custodial remand Lalit Jha, “mastermind” behind the Parliament security breach, till 5 January, 2024.

Jha was produced before the Delhi Court on Friday.

#WATCH | Delhi Court extends the custodial remand of Parliament security breach case accused Lalit Jha till January 5, 2024. pic.twitter.com/MxrI398PD8

— ANI (@ANI) December 22, 2023

The Delhi Police, on the evening of 14 December, day after the Parliament security breach, arrested Lalit Mohan Jha after he reportedly surrendered before the Kartavya Path Police station.

The police said Jha had fled from the spot on 13 December, 2023, after making a video of Neelam and Amol shouting slogans and releasing yellow-coloured smoke from canisters outside the Parliament building and sent it to Neelaksh Aish, founder of an NGO, the police said.

He then fled to Nagaur in Rajasthan by bus where he met his two friends and spend the night in hotel. However, he soon realised that cops were looking out for him and he decided to return to Delhi, the Delhi Police had said according to preliminary investigation.

Reports claimed Jha to be a resident of Kolkata and a teacher by profession.

A report by PTI said, the Delhi Police Special Cell has contacted Aish to get further leads about Jha who also is said to be associated by a Kolkata-based NGO.

On 13 December, 2023, a major security breach was reported in the Indian Parliament, when two men Sagar Sharma (26) and Manoranjan D (34) jumped into the Lok Sabha chamber from the public gallery during Zero Hour, released coloured smoke from canisters and shouted slogans before being overpowered by some MPs.

Around the same time, Amol Shinde (25) and Neelam Devi (37) sprayed coloured smoke from canisters while shouting "tanashahi nahi chalegi" outside Parliament premises.

All four were detained by the police minutes later.

On Thursday, Special Judge Hardeep Kaur extended till 5 January the custody of Manoranjan, Sagar, Shinde and Neelam Devi.

With inputs from agencies