A Delhi court on Tuesday sentenced the man who breached security at the Parliament headquarters in Delhi to eight days in police custody.
Even as the accused, identified as Sarabjit Singh, was sent to custody, the police cited his links with the 2020-21 farmers’ agitation while seeking custody.
The 37-year-old is believed to be a “kisan andolan follower”, reports said, referring to the farmers’ agitation on Delhi’s borders that led to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s rollback of three controversial laws related to the agriculture sector.
He shared several posts on social media platforms to express his support for those who lost their lives during the unrest, with some of this content later deleted, according to a PTI report. Police also said they wanted to check whether there was a “conspiracy.”
Read also | A masked man, a bouquet of flowers and an arrest in two hours: the security breach of the Delhi rally explained
What do we know about security breach?
On Monday, he caused the security breach by breaking through barriers while driving an SUV and damaging the iron gates to enter the building. After that, he got out of his car and placed a bouquet of flowers in Parliament Speaker Vijender Gupta’s car, before leaving in the same way.
The incident occurred at around 2.10pm and lasted only five minutes. The speeding Tata Sierra, bearing registration number UP, rammed into the barriers of Gate No. 2 of the Vidhan Sabha building. The gate is located near Gate No. 1 of Vidhan Sabha Metro Station and is usually used for VIP entry.
Security at the gate is usually lighter when the council is not in session. On Monday, two CRPF personnel were on duty at this entrance. When the car hit the barricades, the individuals chased the SUV, which stopped near the Speaker’s unlocked car, a police officer said, according to an earlier HT report.
Singh then got out of his car, sat briefly inside the speaker’s car, and placed a bouquet of artificial flowers as well as a marigold wreath in the trunk. He then got into his car and drove out of the building, almost hitting an auto rickshaw on his way out.
Delhi Police suspects ‘terrorism angle’ and defense points to ‘mental illness’
The police sought 10 days’ custody of Singh, saying this period was necessary to uncover any conspiracy linked to the security breach and to investigate the possible “terrorism angle”, Additional Public Prosecutor (APP) Atul Shrivastava submitted before the court.
Shrivastava said Singh’s phone, which he allegedly disposed of, has not yet been recovered, PTI reported.
On the other hand, the defense lawyer said that Singh is mentally unstable and is undergoing regular medical treatment. The defense lawyer said that Singh left his home two weeks ago to visit his sister in Chandigarh without informing anyone, adding that his family had no idea about his whereabouts.
However, the accused allegedly drove back to Delhi after learning that his nephew was missing, and mistakenly entered the association premises thinking it was a gurdwara, his lawyer said. However, the judge questioned how Singh could be allowed to drive if he was in such a condition.
“You drive 700 kilometers across the states and still claim you’re crazy?” the judge asked. “How could you now only realize these mental problems after committing this crime?” The judge asked further.
