Parliament Security Breach: Delhi court orders Police to give FIR copy to accused Neelam Azad

A Delhi court on Thursday directed the Delhi Police to supply a copy of its first information report (FIR) registered in relation to the parliament security breach case to accused Neelam Azad..Additional Sessions Judge (ASJ) Hardeep Kaur of Patiala House court passed the order despite vehement opposition from Delhi Police’s Special Public Prosecutor Akhand Pratap Singh.Delhi Police said that it is a sealed FIR because the case is very sensitive in nature, the investigation is still going on and some of the accused are still at large.Singh further contended that every information is crucial at this stage and any leakage can influence the investigation and therefore, the copy of FIR cannot be supplied to the applicant/accused.Meanwhile, Azad’s lawyer, advocate Suresh Kumar Chaudhary argued that the accused’s family and lawyer should be provided with the FIR as a matter of constitutional right..The Court, however, allowed Azad's plea.The Court also allowed Azad’s request seeking direction to Delhi Police to allow her to meet her lawyer.ASJ Kaur said that Azad is entitled to legal assistance even in police custody and therefore, she can meet her lawyer every alternate day for 15 minutes. .Neelam Azad was arrested by the Delhi Police on December 13 along with three other accused - Sagar Sharma, Manoranjan D and Amol Shinde.While Azad and Shinde were protesting outside parliament building , Sharma and Manoranjan D had entered the Lok Sabha chamber from the visitors' gallery with canisters emitting smoke.They were initially remanded to police custody for seven days.As their custody ended today, they were produced before the court. Delhi Police sought extension of the remand for 15 days and the court allowed the request.