Parliament breach: Attackers plotted anarchy to make govt meet demands, say police

 Also looking into their funding, they tell court

Lalit Jha, key accused in the recent Parliament security breach, being produced at the Patiala House Court, in New Delhi | PTI

The Week, December 15, 2023 : Lalit Jha, the ‘mastermind’ behind the Parliament security breach was sent to 7-day police custody on Friday. While seeking his custody, Delhi Police has alleged that the accused met with others several times and their plan was to create "anarchy in the country".

Reportedly, when Jha was arrested by the police on Thursday, he had told them that they wanted anarchy so that they could compel the government to meet their demands.

The police also told the court that Jha had destroyed the evidence as part of the larger conspiracy.

“He took the phone of the others to hide them and to destroy evidence as part of the larger conspiracy,” said police. They also added that during interrogation Jha said he threw his phone on his way from Jaipur to Delhi.

Police has sought 15-day custody for Jha so that they could confront the accused with each other and locate the mobile phones. According to them, the accused stayed at the hotel for four days (plotting the attack).

The police is also looking into the financial details of the accused and the possible funding behind the attack.

Special Judge Hardeep Kaur remanded Jha after the public prosecutor said he was required to be questioned to unearth the entire conspiracy as he was the "mastermind of the incident".

Jha, who worked as a teacher in Kolkata, is believed to be a quiet man. His neighbours and family members are still in shock over the recent developments. Neighbours of Lalit, at Burrabazar in Kolkata, also said he was a "reserved man".

The other four arrested by the police are already in police custody. The arrested--Sagar Sharma (26), Manoranjan D. (34), Amol Shinde (25) and Neelam Devi (37)--were slapped with charges including Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act besides charges of criminal conspiracy, trespass, wantonly giving provocation with intent to cause riot, obstructing public servant in discharge of public functions and assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of duties under provisions of the Indian Penal Code.

Jha along with the other accused professes to be followers of the ideals of revolutionary Shaheed Bhagat Singh, who on April 8, 1929, along with Batukeshwar Dutt, had thrown smoke bombs in Parliament.

On Wednesday, at around 1 pm, during the Zero Hour in the Lok Sabha, Sagar Sharma and Manordanjan leaped down from the visitors' gallery into the floor of the House and exploded coloured smoke canisters, spreading shock and panic. Their parliamentary pass had been signed by BJP MP from Mysuru, Pratap Simha.