Lalit Jha: Parliament Breach Mastermind Sought Anarchy, Police Seek Permission to Recreate Incident

Lalit Jha, the mastermind behind the Parliament security breach, aimed to create chaos and force the government to meet their demands. Police plan to recreate the incident and investigate potential foreign connections.

New Delhi: Lalit Jha, the mastermind behind the recent Parliament security breach, conspired with co-accused to create chaos and compel the government to meet their demands, the Delhi Police revealed in a city court on Friday. Jha, hailing from West Bengal, was taken into seven-day police custody after his arrest on Thursday night.

Unraveling the Conspiracy

During the court hearing in Patiala House court, police presented evidence suggesting that Jha and his accomplices met multiple times to hatch the plot to breach Parliament security. The investigation aims to determine if the accused had any connections with foreign entities or terrorist organizations. Police plan to recreate the December 13 incident inside and outside Parliament to gain a clearer understanding of the events.

Tracing the Evidence

In their pursuit of evidence, the police intend to take Jha to Rajasthan to locate the places where he discarded his phone and destroyed the phones of others involved. Jha fled to Rajasthan after the incident and returned to Delhi the following night. The absence of the accused' mobile phones poses a significant challenge in tracing the origin of the conspiracy and identifying potential accomplices.

Interrogations and Investigations

Police are currently interrogating two additional individuals, Kailash and Mahesh Kumawat, who are believed to have assisted Jha in arranging his stay in Rajasthan. The investigation team is considering approaching Parliament to seek permission for recreating the crime scene within the House and outside the Parliament building.

Motives and Planning

During interrogation, Jha confessed to discarding his phone near the Delhi-Jaipur border and destroying the phones of other accused individuals. Police suspect foreign funding may have played a role in the meticulous planning and multiple visits to Delhi for reconnaissance. The search is ongoing for the individual who designed the shoes with hidden cavities used to conceal canisters.

Seeking Answers

When questioned about his motivations, Jha cited unemployment as a driving factor behind his actions. Police have collected CCTV footage from Parliament and the surrounding areas to ascertain if the accused were accompanied by others before the incident. Additionally, dump data from mobile phones active during the incident is being gathered for analysis.

Larger Conspiracy and Terrorism Charges

Police believe the accused had a backup plan in case their primary scheme failed. Jha's custodial interrogation is deemed necessary to uncover the broader conspiracy, identify any additional individuals involved, and establish the true motive behind the attack. Terrorism charges under the stringent UAPA have been filed against the four main accused.

Diary Sheds Light on Accused's Mindset

In a significant development, the Lucknow Police have forwarded a diary allegedly belonging to Sagar Sharma, one of the accused, to the Delhi Police. Sharma's family handed over the diary to local authorities, providing valuable insights into his mindset leading up to the incident.

Family's Shock and Disbelief

Shambhu Jha, Lalit's elder brother, expressed the family's disbelief and shock over the incident. He described Lalit as a calm and introverted individual who had always stayed away from trouble. The family was unaware of his involvement with NGOs and private tutoring, and they were deeply disturbed by the images of him on television.