The 23-day-old baby was rescued from Narendrapur in South 24 Parganas district, while the couple was arrested from Gaya in Bihar where they fled to after selling her, they said. 

A complaint was lodged at the Anandapur police station on Wednesday by a woman, stating that her daughter was missing. 

During the investigation, it was found that the grandparents sold her for Rs 30,000 to two child traffickers. 

They, in turn, sold the newborn to a childless woman in Narendrapur for lakhs of rupees. 

Apart from the grandparents, police said they have also arrested the two traffickers and the woman who bought the baby. 

"We will continue our probe to find out how many people are involved in the trafficking racket. The baby has been rescued and she is in good health," a police officer said. -- PTI

Jha, accompanied by a man, reached the Kartavya Path police station in the national capital where he was handed over to the special cell. 

"Lalit Jha came to Kartavya Path police station where he was arrested. He was handed over to special cell which is investigating the incident," an officer said. 

In a major security breach on the anniversary of the 2001 Parliament terror attack on Wednesday, two men -- Sagar Sharma and Manoranjan D -- jumped into the Lok Sabha chamber from the public gallery during Zero Hour, released yellow smoke from canisters and shouted slogans before being overpowered by MPs. 

Around the same time, two others, including a woman, raised slogans and released yellow smoke from canisters outside the Parliament premises, prompting police to round up the duo. 

According to police, the Parliament security breach was well-coordinated, meticulously planned and carried out by six people, all of whom are now in police custody. -- PTI

The announcement comes as the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz party had already announced that its chief and former three-time premier Nawaz Sharif would be the nominee for the post of prime minister. 

Though Pakistan is a multi-party parliamentary democracy and the election of prime minister and president is indirect based on the number of seats won by a party, the nomination of prime minister or president helps the voters to decide with the knowledge who would be on the top of decision making hierarchy after elections. 

Addressing the media here, PPP information secretary Faisal Karim Kundi said that Bilawal will be the candidate for the prime minister and "our wish will be that we replay 2008 and make Asif Zardari the president'. 

Zardari, 68, who had become the President of Pakistan after elections held in 2008, served in the post till 2013. 

Bilawal, 35, served as the minister of foreign affairs from April 2022 to August 2023. -- PTI

Secretary of the Shahi Idgah Masjid management committee and advocate Tanveer Ahmed told PTI that the committee will challenge the high court's decision in the apex court. 

"Whatever legal process is possible will be taken against this decision," he said. 

In a statement, All India Muslim Personal Law Board spokesperson Qasim Rasool Ilyas welcomed the decision of the Shahi Idgah mosque committee and said, "The legal committee of the AIMPLB will provide every assistance to the Shahi Idgah Masjid committee." 

"In 1991, during the Babri Masjid dispute, the Central government had passed a law to get rid of all such disputes relating to places of worship. The law said that the status of the places of worship would remain exactly the same as it was in 1947."    

"It was expected that no new conflict would arise after this but the elements who are not interested in peace and harmony in the country and who are creating hatred between Hindus and Muslims want to fulfil their political interest by doing so," Ilyas said. 

The high court on Thursday allowed a court-monitored survey of the Shahi Idgah complex, an important milestone in the temple-mosque dispute in Mathura. -- PTI

Rohaniya assembly segment is part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Varanasi Lok Sabha constituency. 

Senior JD-U leader and Bihar Rural Development Minister Shrawan Kumar, who is in charge of party affairs in UP told PTI that "CM Nitish Kumar's December 24 public meeting in Rohaniya, Varanasi, has been cancelled as the administration of Jagatpur Inter College in Rohaniya where Kumar was supposed to hold a public meeting, refused to give us permission for the same on Thursday because of the pressure by the local administration and the state government. "They (college administration) earlier said that we would be given permission. But they refused it on Thursday". "UP is under Yogi Adityanth's dictatorship. Not allowing us to hold a public meeting of our party supremo in Varanasi is simply a murder of democracy. We will not leave itWe will soon announce the next date of the public meeting. The JD(U) will soon launch a mass outreach campaign in UP to expose the BJP. We are preparing a concrete strategy for the Lok Sabha elections", he said. 

Party leaders and workers from the Purvanchal region were supposed to attend the Rohaniya public meeting. Rohaniya is a Patel majority assembly constituency in Varanasi.

Details being ascertained, the Defence PRO of Guwahati said.

Details soon.

Massive security and sitting arrangements have been made at the historic Albert Hall, where a large number of people are likely to witness the ceremony. 

Till Thursday evening, people were seen giving a final touch to make the arrangements grand for the occasion. 

A spokesperson of the Bharatiya Janata Party said invitations have been sent to central leaders and state chief ministers for the ceremony. 

The main roads leading up to the state capital have been decorated with posters and banners of various welfare schemes of the Centre as well as cut-outs of leaders, he added. 

The swearing-in ceremony of Sharma and his deputies -- Diya Kumari and Prem Chand Bairwa -- will be held on Friday. 

The three will be administered the oath by Governor Kalraj Mishra. 

The BJP won 115 seats in the November 25 Assembly polls in the desert state while the Congress got 69. Polling was held on 199 of the 200 seats in the assembly. -- PTI 

Additional sessions judge Dr Hardeep Kaur on Thursday allowed all four accused Manoranjan D, Sagar Sharma, Amol Dhanraj Shinde and Neelam Devi to Mumbai, Mysore, and Lucknow to probe and find actual motives behind their act.  

According to the Delhi police, the accused persons had purchased special shoes from Lucknow and canisters from Mumbai. 

This was a well-planned conspiracy and attack on the Parliament of India.  

The police lawyers further submitted that the accused carried a pamphlet and declared Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a missing person and said the person who found him would be paid with money from the Swiss Bank. 

The accused showed the PM like a proclaimed offender.  

The police informed the court that it had registered the FIR under various sections of the Indian Penal Code and had also added sections of stringent 16 (terrorism) and 18 (conspiracy for terrorism) of the UAPA Act. -- ANI

The net tax collection for April-November stood at Rs 10.64 lakh crore, which is 23.4 per cent higher than the corresponding period of last year, the ministry of finance said. 

Gross collections, before issuing refunds, grew 17.7 per cent to Rs 12.67 lakh crore in the April-November period. 

Refunds amounting to Rs 2.03 lakh crore issued from April to November of the current fiscal. 

Special initiative was taken for cases where refunds had failed initially and subsequently issued to validated bank accounts, the ministry said. 

In the current fiscal, Rs 18.23 lakh crore is expected to be collected in direct taxes (personal income tax and corporate tax), and Rs 15.38 lakh crore from indirect taxes (GST, customs, excise). 

Earlier this week, a senior finance ministry official said that the government is likely to stick to the budgeted estimate of a total tax collection target of Rs 33.61 lakh crore for the current fiscal in the revised estimates. 

So far, direct tax collection is up by about 20 per cent and indirect tax is higher by 5 per cent. -- PTI

A stellar rally in domestic equities fuelled by foreign fund inflows also boosted the rupee sentiment. 

However, dollar buying by state-run banks and a rise in oil prices capped the rupee gains, forex traders said. 

At the interbank foreign exchange market, the rupee opened strong at 83.30 against the last close of 83.40, the lowest closing level against the US dollar. 

The rupee moved in a tight range of 83.35 and 83.27 in the day trade. 

It finally closed at 83.33, up by 7 paise over the previous close. -- PTI

She has been the party's treasurer and her elevation comes ahead of the Lok Sabha election next year and also due to 'Captain' Vijayakant's health condition. 

A resolution among the 18 passed at the party's general council and executive committee meeting held at Tiruverkadu in Chennai, appointed Premalatha Vijayakant as the DMDK's new general secretary to steer the party. 

Vijayakant, who was not keeping good health of late, and was hospitalised from November 18 to December 11, attended the meeting, making it his first public appearance after a long time. 

He was accorded a rousing reception by the party cadres. -- PTI

Joshi, however, noted that such passes are facilitated by MPs often on "goodwill". 

"The probe will bring out everything. Why they (opposition) are making so much noises before it," he told reporters when asked about the demand of action against the Mysuru MP. 

Sources said Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a meeting with some ministers in Parliament complex underlined the sensitivity of the issue of security breach and advised his ministerial colleagues to not engage in any political squabbling with opposition leaders over the matter. 

What has happened is a serious issue, he is believed to have said, expressing confidence that Speaker Om Birla will take appropriate corrective measures. 

Sources said Simha has also put across his defence to Joshi, saying he knew the father of one of the accused, Manoranjan D. 

His father would visit the MP's local office, they added. -- PTI

The apex court is seized of a petition filed by Jain challenging the April 6 order of the Delhi high court dismissing his bail application in the case being probed by the Enforcement Directorate. 

A bench of Justices Bela M Trivedi and SC Sharma granted the relief to Jain after noting that he fractured his leg on December 9. 

"Without expressing any opinion on the merits of the case, we are inclined to extend interim order," the bench said. 

Additional Solicitor General SV Raju opposed the prayer claiming he was not cooperating in the investigation. 

Jain, who had moved the top court for bail, is currently on interim bail on health grounds. 

The top court had on May 26 granted the former Delhi minister interim bail on medical grounds for six weeks and it is being extended from time to time. -- PTI

Strongly condemning the 'intimidation,' Stalin said when the CISF cop spoke to her in Hindi, she answered that she does not know that language and she was intimidated on this issue. 

The CISF person lectured stating that Tamil Nadu is in India and that all the people in India must learn Hindi and this is strongly condemnable, the chief minister, also president of the ruling DMK said in Tamil in a post on X. 

"Wondering who would tell the CISF person that Hindi is designated only as an official language in the Constitution and not as the national language," the CM said. -- PTI

The court, after hearing arguments, sent the 4 accused to seven-day police custody.

He has sustained burns and is currently being treated at a private hospital, they said. 

Bajrangi alias Rajkumar is the national president of Goraksha Bajrang Force and has been arrested in connection with the Nuh violence. 

According to the police, Bajrangi's younger brother Mahesh Panchal was allegedly attacked on Wednesday night by at least five men. 

They allegedly poured petrol on Panchal and set him on fire at Chacha Chowk in Baba Mandi, Faridabad, the police said. 

After getting information on the incident, a police team reached the hospital. 

Panchal told the police that he recognised one of the attackers. 

Later police inspected the spot of the alleged incident. 

A senior police officer said that they are verifying the facts and a probe is underway. 

The accused will be arrested soon, he said. -- PTI

 House Chairman Jagdeep Dhankar announced a motion moved by the Leader of the House Piyush Goyal, who raised his conduct against the proceedings of the Upper House, claiming "repeated disregard" to the chair and gross violation of Rule 256 (3).

 Goyal moved the motion that said, "The House takes a serious note of the conduct of Derek O'Brien member who was suspended from the service of the Council under Rule 256 (2) to deliberately continue in the chamber in gross violation of Rule 256 (3) and disregarding repeated direction imparted by the chair." 

 "Thereby, compounding his offence and committing a serious contempt of the House and breach of privilege of members, and agrees that the matter be referred to the Committee of Privileges of the Rajya Sabha for examination, investigation and report within three months," it stated. 

 As the motion was accepted by the majority of the members, the Chairman referred it to the Committee of Privileges of Rajya Sabha. He later adjourned the House for the day to meet at 11 am on Friday. 

 Earlier, the House faced three adjournments between 2 to 4 pm due to the presence of Derek in the House despite the Chairman's repeated warning to the legislator to withdraw to the chamber. 

When the House announced its second adjournment till 2 pm, the Rajya Sabha had adopted a motion for suspension of Derek for the remainder of the winter session for his "unruly behaviour" and "misconduct". 

The proceedings of the house were adjourned till 2 PM after an uproar by opposition members over the TMC leader's suspension. He was named earlier in the morning also for his "unruly behaviour" and was asked by the chairman to leave the House. 

 Accusing Derek of violating the directions of the chair and for disrupting the proceedings of the House, the Chairman had allowed the Leader of the House Piyush Goyal to move a motion in this regard. The motion was adopted with a voice vote and the Chairman announced that Derek stands suspended from the House for the remainder of the session. -- PTI

RJD MP Manoj Jha: "When such an act takes place in the House, it is not just a Parliamentary matter -- it is related to security. A government which can't keep its Parliament secure, can't keep the country safe. Mark my words...We are telling you -- the country is not safe in your hands. You are not coming before us even after 24 hours... We will continue to raise this issue in the House and force the Home Minister to come." 

BSP MP Danish Ali says: "The suspension included one MP who was not even present in the House. He too was suspended. God knows how is this country running..."

Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi: "TMC MP Derek O'Brien was suspended because he raised this issue (security breach in the Parliament) and 14 other MPs have been suspended from Lok Sabha because of raising the same issue...We demand that the Union Home Minister give us an answer regarding the security lapse...The Union Home Minister is escaping from accountability...Why has no question of action been taken against BJP MP Pratap Simha?..."

Congress MP KC Venugopal: "This is a clear hypocritical attitude of this government. On one side, a very big breach of security happened in the Parliament and the person responsible for this is sitting in the House MP Pratap Simha, who had recommended allowing these people entry into the House. On the other hand, the MPs who are demanding a reply from the government have been suspended. It is now becoming a banana republic, these BJP people are making India a banana republic..."

To a question on any preliminary information on Haryana's Neelam, one of the two persons arrested for protesting outside the Parliament on Wednesday, Khattar said it is too early to comment on the matter as the investigation is ongoing. 

 In a major security breach on the anniversary of the deadly 2001 Parliament terror attack, two persons on Wednesday jumped into the Lok Sabha chamber from the visitors' gallery, shouted slogans and released yellow smoke from canisters that triggered panic and chaos in the House.

 Around the same time, two others, including a woman, raised slogans and released yellow smoke from canisters outside the Parliament premises, prompting the police to get into action and round up the duo.

"No one whosoever was involved in the security breach will be spared," the chief minister said, adding that the offenders would be booked for indulging in anti-national activities. 

 Family members of Neelam, who hails from a village in Jind district, had said she had earlier participated in several agitations including the farmers' movement.

 On Wednesday, Neelam's mother Saraswati Devi had told reporters at her house in Ghaso Khurd village in Jind that she came to know about the incident through the media. 

 Two persons, including Neelam, protested outside the Parliament building and sprayed coloured gas from canisters while shouting slogans 'tanashahi nahi chalegi' (dictatorship will not be allowed). 

They were arrested by the Delhi Police. 

 Neelam, who is around 36 years old, was staying at a paying guest accommodation in Hisar for the last five months where she was preparing for competitive examinations, her brother Ram Niwas had said.

 Speaking to reporters, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said, "Yesterday's incident was witnessed by the entire country. Every day there are talks about the security, power and development of the country. He brings Sengol to the Parliament. In reality, national security has hollowed from the inside. Atleast he should condemn the incident in the House." 

 "When the attack happened in 2001, I want to remind you that our leader Sonia Gandhi called the then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee to ask him if he was okay. There is no such tradition now," he added. 

 Earlier today, the opposition created a ruckus inside Parliament and demanded Home Minister's Amit Shah resignation over the breach incident. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla said "All of us are concerned" about what happened in the House yesterday.

 As soon as the House met, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi moved the resolution to suspend VK Sreekandan (Cong), Benny Behanan (Cong), Mohammad Jawed (Cong), PR Natarajan (CPI-M), Kanimozhi (DMK), K. Subbarayan (CPI), SR Parthiban (DMK), S Venkatesan (CPI-M), Manickam Tagore (Cong).

 Earlier in the day, the House passed a resolution suspending five Congress MPs -- T N Prathapan, Hibi Eden, Jothimani, Ramya Haridas and Dean Kuriakose (all Congress) -- for the remainder of the session after being named by the Speaker for disrupting House proceedings. After the second resolution was passed, the House was adjourned to meet again on Friday. -- PTI

The Delhi Police detained Neelam (42), a resident of Jind, and 25-year-old Amol after they protested outside the Parliament in front of Transport Bhawan using gas canisters that emitted yellow smoke. 

 "We believe Neelam can never take such a step... She was arrested while she was only raising slogans. We request the government to provide an employment opportunity. Villagers have also supported us," said Neelam's mother while talking to ANI. 

 Neelam, while being taken away by Delhi Police officials, said that she is unemployed. "...Because we are unemployed, our parents work so much, are labourers, farmers, small traders, shopkeepers, but no one's voices are being heard." 

 Police sources on Thursday also revealed that it was Lalit Jha who had decided on the date to carry out the breach incident inside Parliament "Lalit Jha had called everyone for a meeting in Gurugram. Before carrying out the incident, Lalit took possession of the phones of the four accused and ran away," police sources said.

 According to sources, the accused Lalit Jha was last traced in Rajasthan's Neemrana. Police sources further said that the absconding accused might be trying to erase the evidence from the mobile phone of all four accused which he earlier took away with him. 

Lalit Jha also sent a video of the incident to Nilaksha Aich, an NGO founder. Nilaksha Aich who runs an NGO working on tribal education in West Bengal's Purulia district said that the accused Lalit Jha was a member of that organisation. 

According to police sources all the accused were associated with the social media page 'Bhagat Singh Fan Club'. 

Everyone met in Mysuru about one and a half years ago. 

Sagar came from Lucknow in July but could not go inside the Parliament House. On December 10, one by one everyone reached Delhi from their respective states. Everyone met near India Gate where colored crackers were distributed to everyone. 

 Sagar Sharma's mother, identified as Rani Sharma and sister, Mahi Sharma also claimed that Sagar is a patriot. 

 Rani Sharma said, "On yesterday's crime, we would like to say that our child has been framed; my son is not like that he used to drive an e-rickshaw, I have only one son, he is my support, our child is innocent, he has been framed." 

 On the question of whether she knows the people with whom his son committed the crime, Rani said, "I don't know about it but I know that he is innocent, he can never do this, all this has been filled in his mind." 

 "He told me at home that he was going to Delhi to meet his friends for two days and would come back to work. He used to earn Rs 500 by driving an e-rickshaw." 

 While appealing to PM Narendra Modi, Sagar's sister Mahi Sharma said, "There should be a fair investigation, my brother is innocent and those who manipulated him for the crime should be punished."

 "My brother studied till intermediate and a patriot and always talked about the progress of the country. Whenever it was 15th August, he used to go out in a rickshaw with the tricolour on it" Sagar's sister said.

 Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi moved a resolution amid the din to suspend the five. "I move the following that this House having taken misconduct of T N Prathapan, Hibi Eden, Jothimani, Ramya Haridas and Dean Kuriakose Kuryakus in utter disregard to the House and the authority of this Chair and having been named by the chair ...to be suspended from the service of the House for reminder session," the resolution read. B Mahtab was chairing the proceedings. PTI

 Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said this after Malviya shared pictures in which a woman arrested in connection with Wednesday's incident is seen purportedly campaigning for the Congress.

 In a post on 'X', Ramesh said, "BJP IT Cell desperately wants to divert attention from 2 facts: 1. There was a very serious breach in the security of Parliament. 2. The intruders who breached Lok Sabha security in a shocking manner had been given access to the Parliament by Pratap Simha, BJP MP from Mysuru." 

 Sharing the pictures on 'X', Malviya earlier said, "Regime change is a phrase Congress leaders often use." 

 "Meet Neelam Azad, the lady who breached Parliament's security today. She is an active Congress/I.N.D.I Alliance supporter. She is an Andolanjeevi, who has been seen at several protests," he said.

 "Question is who sent them? Why did they pick someone from Mysore to obtain Parliament pass from a BJP MP... Remember the Opposition will stop at nothing, not even defiling the Parliament, highest institution of our democracy," the BJP leader added. 

 In a separate post tagging a video of the father of Manoranjan, another accused in the Parliament security breach incident, Malviya said, "Was Manoranjan active with Congress and/or SFI sponsored movements? Did he attend Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Yatra?" 

 "The last word on this is not out yet' But one thing is clear: the Opposition defiled Parliament on 13th Dec with a purpose," he said. -- PTI

 Among these are the bodies of 60 Kuki victims who lost their lives during the violence that gripped the border state in May. These had been kept at hospitals in Imphal, they said. 

 They said he participated in army and police recruitment drives at various places, including Assam, and even worked as a daily wage labourer as he was unemployed.

 Amol Shinde (25), a resident of Zari village in Chakur tehsil of Latur, was arrested on Wednesday along with Neelam, 42, of Haryana's Hisar, after they opened gas canisters that emitted smoke outside the Parliament building and shouted "Tanashahi Nahi Chalegi" (dictatorship will not be allowed), "Bharat Mata Ki Jai" and "Jai Bheem, Jai Bharat". 

 After the incident in Delhi, a team of Latur police visited his house in Zari village. 

Talking to reporters on Wednesday night, Shinde's mother Kesarbai said, "He (Amol) always wished to join the army. But I told him to work in some company as he was age-barred (for recruitment). We came to know about the (Parliament) incident when the police visited our house. The police took his documents related to sports into their custody." 

"Amol always said he wanted to study and go to Latur for that. He asked for Rs 4,000 per month, but we said that it was not possible for us. We already spent a lot and provided money for his school education," she said. His father Dhanraj Shinde said, "Amol worked as a daily wage labourer. He tried for army recruitment and had gone to Assam, Nashik and Kolhapur for that purpose. Others are joining through recruitment. He might have thought how many days should I do this (work as daily wager), therefore he could have done this (Parliament act)." 

"If he is saved (released in the case), he will come back to our village, but if he does not come, we will think that we didn't have a son," his father added. 

 The police earlier said that Amol belongs to a Scheduled Caste community and is a BA graduate. He did odd jobs as a daily wager while preparing for police and army recruitment exams. His parents and two brothers also work as daily wagers, they said.

The winter session is scheduled to run till December 22. The Upper House of the Parliament has adopted a motion for the suspension of the Trinamool member. O'Brien had demanded a discussion on the security breach incident, in which two men jumped from the visitors' gallery into the Lok Sabha and burst yellow smoke canisters.

A resident of Kolkata, Lalit Jha is a teacher by profession and was the main conspirators of the security breach, police said. 

 Influenced by revolutionary Shaheed Bhagat Singh, Lalit and others were highly motivated to commit an act which could draw the country's attention to them, they said. The security agencies so far have not found their connections with any terror group, the officer said. 

 According to the person, all six joined a Bhagat Singh fan page on Facebook after coming in touch with each other on social media. 

 Lalit, Sagar Sharma, and Maoranjan D had about a year ago met in Mysore where they made a plan to barge into the parliament. They later added Neelam and Amol into the plan. 

 Being a teacher, Lalit took the lead and instructed Manoranjan to do a reccee of all entry points of the Parliament during the Monsoon Session. 

 "In July, Manoranjan came to Delhi and went inside the parliament on a visitor pass issued on the name of an MP. There, he got to know that the frisking of shoes does not happen," the officer privy to the investigations said. 

 On Wednesday, Lalit came with the four others to the Parliament. When they got passes for only two of them - Lalit decided to take the mobile phones of all four - Sagar, Manoranjan, Neelam and Amol with him. 

 The colour canisters, which were sprayed inside and outside the Parliament complex, had been brought by Amol from Kalyan, Maharashtra. Sagar and Manoranjan went inside, while Neelam and Amol stayed outside at the gate where they too opened the canisters, which emitted yellow and red smoke, the officer said. 

 Lalit later posted the video of the incident on his Instagram account and also shared it with Vishal Sharma alias Vickey - also part of the group soon after Neelam and Amol were detained from outside the parliament, the officer added. 

 Lalit's last location was traced in Neemrana on the Rajasthan-Haryana Border. Police had earlier said that all five had gathered on December 10 and stayed at Vishal Sharma's residence in Gurugram. Neelam, Manoranjan, Amol, and Vishal are in custody and have been questioned by the Delhi Police Special cell and other security agencies. PTI

 So far, four people have been arrested in the case. 

Police informed that two people, one identified as Vicky and his wife are being interrogated. 

 "So far no connection with any outfit has been established," sources said.

 According to sources, accused Sagar Sharma and Manoranjan took the lead and arranged passes for others who were involved in the incident. "They were the ones who actively participated in recce, ahead of the incident," sources said. 

 Police sources mentioned that all accused were associated with a social media page 'Bhagat Singh Fan Club.' 

The family originally hails from Uttar Pradesh's Unnao district and has lived here in Lucknow in rented accommodation for almost 20 years.

 Himanshu, owner of the electric rickshaw that Sagar used to run, said that "One and a half months ago, he had taken my electric rickshaw on rent. He was a very nice boy and used to take e-rickshaw in morning and bring it out in the evening, just like any other driver. He used to keep to his work." 

 Ahead of this, Sagar's family said on Wednesday that Sagar left his home in Lucknow two days ago to take part in a "protest" in Delhi. 

However, the family said they were unaware of his involvement in the Parliament security breach. 

 Sagar's maternal uncle has raised suspension on Sagar being framed in conspiracy and said, "I am shocked that he jumped into parliament; only God knows the truth. He has been pulled into it as per a conspiracy by someone who holds a big position; otherwise, he is a simple boy." 

 Anuj Kumar Sharma Sagar's fellow e-rickshaw driver said, "He also used to drive an e-rickshaw on rent; the boy is very good; he never quarreled with anyone in the locality; whenever I used to come to the locality, I saw that he came, did his work and went away. He used to come and sit near my house and ask for work."

"Everyone met in Mysuru about one-and-a-half years ago. Sagar came from Lucknow in July but could not go inside the Parliament House. On December 10, one by one everyone reached Delhi from their respective states. Everyone met near India Gate where colored crackers were distributed to everyone. Police is continuously interrogating them to find out who is the mastermind behind them, as per initial investigation, main conspirator is someone else," police said. 

 Sagar Sharma, a resident of Lucknow's Manaknagar area, is said to be inspired by left-wing ideology and use to share and comment on similar posts using two Facebook accounts.

 Both Facebook accounts of Sagar have not been active for several months. His Facebook pages revealed that Sagar was also in contact with many people from Kolkata, Rajasthan and Haryana via Facebook. 

 A bench comprising CJI and justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra was urged by senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi, appearing for Jain who is out on interim bail, that the proposed hearing on his plea by the Justice Trivedi-led bench during the day be deferred. 

 Singhvi said a bench comprising Justice A S Bopanna and Justice Trivedi had heard substantial arguments in the case and now the matter is listed before the bench on which Justice Bopanna is not a part. 

"We wish to seek a deferment. If you (the CJI) can kindly see the case papers once, the senior lawyer said. I will not control what the judge concerned is doing in the matter listed before her. The judge who has the case will decide. I cannot. I cannot take a call," the CJI said. 

 Jain, who had moved the top court for bail, is currently on interim bail on health grounds. The top court had on May 26 granted the former Delhi minister interim bail on medical grounds for six weeks and it is being extended time to time. -- PTI

 The leaders met in the chamber of Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge. 

 Several Congress MPs, including Kharge, have given notices for adjournment in both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha to discuss the issue while setting aside all other business of the House. 

 While Congress MP and whip Manickam Tagore has given an adjournment notice in Lok Sabha, party MP and whip in Rajya Sabha Naseer Hussain gave a similar adjournment notice under Rule 267 for discussing the issue. Another Party MP Jebi Mather also gave a notice under Rule 267 in the Rajya Sabha to discuss the issue. 

 Some parties are also contemplating meeting President Droupadi Murmu on the security issue and seek her intervention as it involves the security of all MPs.

 In his adjournment notice, Hussain said two unauthorised visitors infiltrated the Lok Sabha chamber, causing chaos by shouting slogans and detonating smoke bombs while the House was in session.

   He said before this intrusion, two protestors engaged in a demonstration outside Parliament House, where they also ignited smoke bombs.

"These incidents seem to be part of a coordinated effort, involving a total of five individuals: the two infiltrators inside the Lok Sabha Chamber, the two protestors, and an additional person, all suspected to be working in collusion.

"Given the gravity of the situation and its direct impact on the security of the esteemed institution of Parliament and its members, I propose that we demand a statement from the Home Minister regarding this matter.

"Subsequently, I suggest that the House engage in a comprehensive discussion on urgent remedial security measures to address and prevent such breaches in the future," Hussain said in his adjournment notice."

 The Delhi Police has registered a case under the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act in connection with the Parliament security breach, officials said on Thursday.

 Those suspended have been identified as Rampal, Arvind, Vir Das, Ganesh, Anil, Pradeep, Vimitt and Narendra. 

 In a major security breach on the anniversary of the 2001 Parliament terror attack on Wednesday, two persons -- Sagar Sharma and Manoranjan D -- jumped into the Lok Sabha chamber from the public gallery during Zero Hour, released yellow gas from canisters and shouted slogans before being overpowered by the MPs. PTI

 In a telephonic conversation with ANI, Nilaksha Aich who runs an NGO working on tribal education in West Bengal's Purulia district said that accused Lalit Jha was a member of that organisation. 

 "It was around 12:50 yesterday, he asked me to see the media coverage. I did not know anything as such as I was attending college at that time. After I returned home I saw the whole coverage. He asked me to keep the video with me. He is not a close friend of mine, I have an NGO of mine that works with tribal development. He was a member of an organisation. I came across him in April," Nilaksha Aich told ANI. 

 Asked about the accused behaviour's pattern, Aich said," He never said anything about anything himself to me. He has always kept his details shady. He never mentioned his whereabouts who are in his family or not. I have not seen him being violent personally."

Congress General Secretary in-charge Communications Jairam Ramesh alleged that the BJP was trying to divert attention from the fact that the intruders had been given access to the Parliament by BJP MP Pratap Simha.

In a post on X Jairam Ramesh said, "BJP IT Cell desperately wants to divert attention from 2 facts. There was a very serious breach in the security of Parliament. The intruders who breached Lok Sabha security in a shocking manner had been given access to the Parliament by Pratap Simha, BJP MP from Mysuru."

They shared the same ideology and hence decided to give a message to the government. 

The security agencies are trying to ascertain if they were instructed by anyone or any organisation.

The main conspirator in Wednesday's Parliament security breach is someone else, as per the initial investigation, police sources said on Thursday. 

 

According to sources, the accused had conducted a recce outside the parliament beforehand. 

 

Police sources mentioned that all accused were associated with a social media page 'Bhagat Singh Fan Club.' 

 

"Everyone met in Mysore about one and a half years ago. Sagar came from Lucknow in July but could not enter the Parliament House. On December 10, one by one, everyone reached Delhi from their respective states. They gathered near India Gate, where colored crackers were distributed to everyone," sources stated. 

 

The Ministry of Home Affairs also ordered an inquiry into a Parliament security breach incident on Wednesday. "On request from Lok Sabha Secretariat, MHA has ordered an enquiry of parliament security breach incident. An Enquiry Committee has been set up under Anish Dayal Singh, DG, CRPF, with members from other security agencies and experts," the Home Ministry said. -- ANI

The Delhi Police has registered a case under the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act in connection with the Parliament security breach, officials said on Thursday.

In a major security breach on the anniversary of the 2001 Parliament terror attack on Wednesday, two persons -- Sagar Sharma and Manoranjan D -- jumped into the Lok Sabha chamber from the public gallery during Zero Hour, released yellow gas from canisters and shouted slogans before being overpowered by some MPs.

Around the same time, two other accused -- Amol Shinde and Neelam Devi -- sprayed coloured gas from canisters while shouting "tanashahi nahi chalegi" outside Parliament premises.

Police said the four were part of a group of six people who planned the incident.

Officials said a case has been registered under relevant sections of the UAPA and the Indian Penal Code (IPC) in connection with the incident. -- PTI 

On a day the Parliament witnessed a major security breach, the Lok Sabha Secretariat on Wednesday reminded MPs to get their 'smart cards' prepared for accessing the new building.

It also reminded them that access to the Parliament House is also facilitated at building gates, Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha lobbies, and certain other places with the help of the Facial Recognition System.

In a bulletin, the secretariat said while several members have smart cards, those who have not registered for the Visitors' Management System should do so.

Asked about the instructions, a functionary said, 'There is nothing new. It is being issued for several days.'

In a major security breach on the anniversary of the deadly 2001 Parliament terror attack on Wednesday, two persons jumped into the Lok Sabha chamber from the visitors' gallery, shouted slogans and released yellow smoke from canisters that triggered panic and chaos in the House. -- PTI