Alka Lamba Protest Case: “Seen Pushing Cops”, Congressman Alka Lamba is charged by a Delhi court in a case involving unruly protests against Parliament Gherao

Alka Lamba Protest Case :  The accused was “clearly seen pushing police officials, jumping barricades and instigating protesters to breach prohibitory orders,” a Delhi court said Thursday, filing criminal charges against Congress leader Alka Lamba in relation to a protest near Jantar Mantar that allegedly turned into a disturbance of public movement and obstruction of public servants.

In a comprehensive ruling, Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Ashwani Panwar of the Rouse Avenue District Courts ruled that recordings of Lamba leading demonstrators outside the allowed protest area, pushing police officers on duty, and disobeying orders issued under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) were prima facie evidence.

The accused obstructed police operations and public routes by jumping barriers first and using gestures to encourage others to follow, according to the court.

The magistrate said, “At the stage of framing of charge, the court is only required to see whether there is material raising grave suspicion against the accused,” adding that the defense version must wait until trial and that the probative value of the evidence cannot be evaluated at this point.

The prosecution claims that on July 29, 2024, while there were prohibitive measures in effect at Jantar Mantar, the event took place. Lamba reportedly led demonstrators towards Tolstoy Road, shoved police officers, leaped several barriers, and laid on the public road, obstructing traffic and annoying people, despite being told that authorization to “gherao” Parliament had been granted.

The magistrate played the videos in public and noted that they showed Lamba repeatedly provoking demonstrators, pushing female police officers into a chain, and finally crossing onto the main road before leaving the area. The remaining demonstrators were then peacefully detained by the police.

The defense contended that there were no independent public witnesses or documented medical injuries, that the demonstration was nonviolent, and that it took place within a specified area. Additionally, it was argued that there was no evidence of the accused committing assault or blocking the road in the footage.

However, the court dismissed these arguments at the threshold, ruling that the information in the record revealed “grave suspicion” sufficient to go on with a trial.

Under Sections 132 (attack or criminal force to discourage public servant), 221 (obstructing public servant), 223(a) (disobedience to a lawfully proclaimed order), and 285 (danger or obstruction in public way) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), the court ordered that charges be brought against Lamba. Her Section 281 BNSS application for discharge was denied.