Overview

• The Delhi High Court has reserved its decision on the bail pleas of Neelam Azad and Mahesh Kumawat, accused in the December 2023 Parliament security breach.
• The protest occurred on the anniversary of the 2001 Parliament terror attack, with accused individuals releasing smoke canisters and chanting slogans inside and outside the Lok Sabha chamber.
• The court scrutinized the deliberate choice of Parliament and the sensitive date, questioning whether the act constitutes terrorism under Section 15 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).
• Prosecution argued the protest was preplanned, involved evidence destruction, and aimed to intimidate the nation's democratic institutions, meeting the UAPA's terrorism threshold.
• The trial court has been instructed to hear arguments on framing charges by June 5, while the defense maintains the act does not qualify as terrorism and intent should be determined during trial.