In a startling turn of events in the Parliament security breach case, Lalit Jha, identified as the mastermind and the fifth accused, allegedly burned the mobile phones of his associates, including his friend Mahesh, upon reaching Kuchaman in Rajasthan, according to police sources. This strategic move aimed to prevent crucial investigation details from falling into police hands, as all four accused had previously handed over their phones to Jha in anticipation of their impending arrest.
Jha, who captured videos of two accomplices outside the Parliament with the intent to publicize them, fled to Kuchaman where he met Mahesh, a connection made through Facebook, as revealed during Jha’s interrogation. Delhi police, however, are rigorously verifying the claims made by Jha.
Before Jha’s arrest, Delhi police, utilizing technical surveillance, detained Mahesh’s cousin Kailash, who disclosed that Jha and Mahesh had gone to Delhi. Upon Jha’s return, he voluntarily went to the police station, leading to his arrest and subsequent interrogation.
Meanwhile, Delhi’s Patiala House Court granted seven days of custodial remand for the four other accused, Manoranjan D, Sagar Sharma, Amol Dhanraj Shinde, and Neelam Devi. Additional Sessions Judge Dr Hardeep Kaur permitted investigations in Mumbai, Mysore, and Lucknow to unveil the motives behind their actions.
The Delhi Police asserted that the accused had meticulously planned the attack on the Parliament, alleging that they purchased special shoes from Lucknow and canisters from Mumbai. Furthermore, police lawyers revealed that the accused carried a pamphlet declaring Prime Minister Modi as a missing person, promising a reward from the Swiss Bank to anyone who found him. The court was informed that an FIR had been registered under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, along with stringent sections 16 (terrorism) and 18 (conspiracy for terrorism) of the UAPA Act.