Parliament breach 2023: Delhi Police file 14,000-page UAPA chargesheet
Synopsis
Nearly two years after the 13 December 2023 Parliament security breach, Delhi Police's Special Cell has filed a 13,967-page UAPA chargesheet — its fourth supplementary filing — covering terrorist acts and criminal conspiracy. The sheer scale of the document, submitted while charge-framing arguments are already underway, has drawn a sharp 'abuse of process' challenge from the defence.
Key Takeaways
The Delhi Police Special Cell filed a 13,967-page fourth supplementary chargesheet in the 2023 Parliament security breach case on 23 May 2025 .
The chargesheet invokes UAPA Sections 13, 16 and 18 , along with multiple IPC sections covering criminal conspiracy, riot provocation, and destruction of evidence.
Accused Sagar Sharma and Manoranjan D. allegedly released yellow smoke inside the Lok Sabha chamber on 13 December 2023 ; Lalit Jha is alleged to be the mastermind.
Defence counsel objected, calling the filing a 'gross abuse of process of law' while charge-framing arguments are ongoing.
The court has listed the matter for document scrutiny on 29 May at 2 pm .
The Delhi Police Special Cell has filed a nearly 14,000-page fourth supplementary chargesheet under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) against the accused in the 2023 Parliament security breach case, covering charges of terrorist acts, criminal conspiracy, and provocation to cause riots. The chargesheet was submitted before the Patiala House Court and taken on record during proceedings held on Thursday, 23 May 2025.
Chargesheet Details and Sections Invoked
According to the court order, the probe agency submitted Supplementary Chargesheet-04 comprising 13,967 pages against the accused. The prosecution informed Additional Sessions Judge Amit Bansal that the chargesheet was filed under Sections 186, 353, 153, 452, 201, 34 and 120B of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), along with Sections 13, 16 and 18 of the UAPA — provisions relating to obstruction of public servants, provoking riots, destruction of evidence, and offences connected with terrorist acts.
Copies of the chargesheet were supplied to all accused persons and their counsels through a pen drive. The prosecution assured the court that one hard copy set would be provided to the defence counsel on the next date of hearing.
Accused Present Before Court
During the hearing, accused Neelam Prajapati alias Neelam Azad and Mahesh Kumawat appeared on bail, while accused Manoranjan D., Amol Dhanraj alias Amol, Sagar Sharma, and Lalit Jha were produced physically from judicial custody. SI Amit Bhati appeared on behalf of Investigating Officer ACP Dharmender and submitted the chargesheet before the court.
Defence Raises Objections
Counsel appearing for accused Neelam Azad and Amol Dhanraj objected to the filing of the supplementary chargesheet at this stage, arguing that submitting such an extensive document while lengthy arguments on framing of charges were already underway amounted to a 'gross abuse of process of law.' The defence also sought a hard copy of the document.
The court thereafter directed that a hard copy be supplied to the concerned defence counsel and listed the matter for scrutiny of documents and further proceedings on 29 May at 2 pm.
What Happened on 13 December 2023
The case stems from a major security breach inside and outside Parliament on 13 December 2023 — the 22nd anniversary of the 2001 Parliament terror attack. Accused Sagar Sharma and Manoranjan D. allegedly jumped into the Lok Sabha chamber from the visitors' gallery while proceedings were underway and released yellow smoke from canisters, triggering panic before being overpowered by Members of Parliament and security personnel.
Simultaneously, accused Neelam Azad and Amol allegedly released coloured smoke and raised slogans outside Parliament premises. According to the police, Lalit Jha was the alleged mastermind behind the conspiracy and had reportedly fled with the mobile phones of the co-accused following the incident in an attempt to destroy evidence.
Broader Investigation and What Comes Next
The Special Cell has been probing the alleged larger conspiracy behind the breach, including the planning, coordination, and communication among the accused. This is the fourth supplementary chargesheet in the case, reflecting the scale and complexity of the investigation. The next hearing is scheduled for 29 May, when the court will take up scrutiny of the voluminous documents filed by the prosecution.
Point of View
967-page chargesheet filed while charge-framing arguments are already in progress is a prosecutorial move that courts will scrutinise carefully — the defence's 'abuse of process' objection is not frivolous. The UAPA's broad sweep, covering Sections 13, 16, and 18, means the accused face a significantly higher evidentiary burden to secure bail, let alone acquittal. What remains underexplored in mainstream coverage is the question of how the alleged conspiracy was planned and whether the investigation has traced the full network, or whether the voluminous chargesheet is substituting bulk for depth. The next hearing on 29 May will be a procedural bellwether.
NationPress
10 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the 2023 Parliament security breach case?
On 13 December 2023 — the 22nd anniversary of the 2001 Parliament terror attack — accused Sagar Sharma and Manoranjan D. allegedly jumped into the Lok Sabha chamber from the visitors' gallery and released yellow smoke from canisters during live proceedings, while Neelam Azad and Amol allegedly released coloured smoke outside Parliament. The Delhi Police Special Cell has been investigating the alleged larger conspiracy behind the incident under the UAPA.
What does the latest chargesheet allege?
The fourth supplementary chargesheet, running to 13,967 pages, alleges offences including terrorist acts, criminal conspiracy, obstruction of public servants, provocation to cause riots, and destruction of evidence. It is filed under Sections 13, 16, and 18 of the UAPA along with multiple IPC sections.
Who are the accused in the Parliament breach case?
The accused named in proceedings include Sagar Sharma, Manoranjan D., Neelam Prajapati alias Neelam Azad, Amol Dhanraj alias Amol, Mahesh Kumawat, and Lalit Jha. Lalit Jha has been alleged by the police to be the mastermind who fled with co-accused mobile phones after the incident.
Why did the defence object to the chargesheet?
Counsel for accused Neelam Azad and Amol Dhanraj argued that filing a near-14,000-page chargesheet while lengthy arguments on framing of charges were already underway amounted to a 'gross abuse of process of law.' The defence also sought a hard copy of the document, which the court directed the prosecution to supply.
What happens next in the case?
The Patiala House Court has listed the matter for scrutiny of documents and further proceedings on 29 May at 2 pm before Additional Sessions Judge Amit Bansal. The prosecution is also required to supply a hard copy of the chargesheet to defence counsel on that date.
