Neelam Azad, an accused involved in the Parliament security breach case, faced a setback in the Delhi High Court as her plea seeking release was dismissed on the grounds of illegality in police remand. The High Court, headed by Justice Suresh Kumar Kait, stated that her petition alleging illegal police custody and lack of consultation with a chosen lawyer was not maintainable.
The bench, accompanied by Justice Manoj Jain, underlined that Azad had already filed a bail application before the trial court, making her current petition invalid. The petitioner’s counsel argued that Azad’s rights were violated as she was denied legal consultation before the trial court during her remand.
However, the High Court asserted that no violation of fundamental rights was evident in the case and suggested addressing the matter in the trial court where her case is pending.
Azad’s petition, filed through lawyer Suresh Kumar, alleged constitutional violations, citing denial of the right to consult a preferred lawyer and the illegality of the remand order. The trial court had remanded her in police custody until January 5.
The plea also highlighted delays in informing Azad’s family of her arrest and her restricted access to legal counsel, contending that this contravened constitutional provisions.
The accused, along with others, were arrested in connection with a significant security breach on December 13, 2023, in Parliament. During Zero Hour, individuals breached security by entering the Lok Sabha chamber, releasing colored gas, and shouting slogans before being subdued by MPs. Azad, along with another individual, sprayed colored gas outside the Parliament House premises.
The trial court had extended police custody for Azad and three others till January 5, citing the need to unearth all conspirators involved.
The High Court’s recent decision to dismiss Azad’s plea marks another development in this case, which has garnered significant attention due to its sensitive nature and potential security implications.
Additionally, the High Court had earlier halted the trial court’s directive for the city police to provide Azad with a copy of the FIR, citing the sensitive nature of the case and guidelines from the Supreme Court regarding certain categories of cases not to be uploaded on authorities’ websites.
Sources By Agencies
