New Delhi, July 2 (H.S.): Delhi High Court granted bail to Neelam Azad and Mahesh Kumawat for breach of Parliament security. Justice Subramonium Prasad ordered release on personal bonds of ₹50,000 each, restricting them from press conferences, media interviews, and social media posts related to the incident. Decision was reserved on May 20.

Additionally, Both individuals must report to the police station on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at 10 AM and cannot leave Delhi. During the hearing, the High Court questioned Additional Solicitor General Chetan Sharma on potential UAPA implications of bringing a smoke canister into Parliament.

The court indicated that while other legal provisions could be applicable, the Delhi police's choice to invoke the UAPA demands serious consideration of the case's details. Neelam Azad and Mahesh Kumawat appealed the trial court's bail rejections to the High Court—Azad's was denied on September 13, 2024, and Kumawat's on November 22, 2024. The police’s extensive charge sheet, nearly 1,000 pages, alleges the accused against Neelam Azad, Lalit Jha, Amol Shinde, Mahesh Kumawat, Sagar Sharma, and others aimed to target Parliament to undermine democracy.

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar