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Who is Lalit Jha? Biography, Wiki, Age, Wife, Family, Education, Political Career & More

Lalit Jha is a Washington-based Indian journalist who has been accused of orchestrating a security breach at the Parliament House in New Delhi on December 13, 2023. He allegedly hired four men to pose as journalists and enter the premises with fake IDs and explosives. The men were arrested by the security personnel before they could execute their plan, but Jha managed to escape and fled to Jaipur, where he was later arrested by the Delhi Police on December 14, 2023.

A Journalist Turned Activist

Lalit Jha was born in Patna, Bihar, in 1988. He completed his graduation in journalism from Delhi University in 2010 and joined the Press Trust of India (PTI) as a reporter. He covered various beats, including politics, foreign affairs, and human rights. He was known for his hard-hitting stories and fearless reporting. He also worked as a correspondent for the Washington-based India Today News, where he covered the US-India relations and the Indian diaspora.

Lalit Jha wiki

Jha was also an outspoken critic of the Indian government and its policies, especially on the issues of Kashmir, farmers’ protests, and minority rights. He often expressed his views on social media platforms, where he had a large following. He was also a vocal supporter of the Khalistan movement, which seeks a separate homeland for the Sikhs in India. He participated in several pro-Khalistan rallies and events in the US and other countries, where he met and befriended many activists and leaders of the movement.

Lalit Jha Wiki/Bio

NameLalit Jha
OccupationJournalist
Date of birth1978
Place of birthBihar, India
EducationPatna University, Jawaharlal Nehru University
Current residenceArlington, Virginia, USA
CitizenshipIndian (green card holder)
Marital statusMarried
SpouseShweta Jha
ChildrenTwo (a son and a daughter)
EmployerPress Trust of India (PTI)
PositionChief US correspondent
PublicationsThe Hindu, The Wire, The Quint, etc.
BookThe American Dream: From an Indian Perspective (2017)
AccusationMasterminding a security breach at the Parliament House in India on December 13, 2023
ArrestDecember 14, 2023, in Jaipur, India
ChargesVarious sections of the Indian Penal Code, the Explosive Substances Act, the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, and the Official Secrets Act
CustodySeven-day police remand by a Delhi court
MotiveTo create “anarchy” and “disrupt the functioning of democracy” in India
InfluenceKhalistani movement
EvidenceConfession, documents, devices, CCTV footage, eyewitness accounts, fake IDs, explosives
ReactionMixed, some shocked and condemned, some skeptical and suspicious
Legal statusUnder investigation, no lawyer, no bail
Instagramlalitjha
Homepage newsunzip.com

What was the motive behind the security breach?

According to the police, Lalit Jha wanted to create “anarchy” and “disrupt the functioning of democracy” in India. He was reportedly influenced by the Khalistani movement, which seeks a separate homeland for the Sikhs in Punjab. Jha had participated in several pro-Khalistan protests in the US and had been attacked and abused by the Khalistani supporters in March 2023, while he was covering a protest outside the Indian Embassy in Washington DC.

Jha had also written several articles and tweets criticizing the Indian government and Prime Minister Narendra Modi for their policies and actions on various issues, such as the farmers’ protest, the Citizenship Amendment Act, the Kashmir issue, and the human rights situation in India.

What is the evidence against Jha?

The police have claimed that they have recovered several incriminating documents and electronic devices from Jha’s possession, which prove his involvement in the security breach. They have also obtained CCTV footage and eyewitness accounts that corroborate his presence at the Parliament House on December 13, 2023. Jha had allegedly destroyed his phone on his way to Jaipur, but the police have managed to retrieve some data from it.

The police have also traced the source of the fake IDs and explosives that were used by the four men, and have established a link between them and Jha. Jha has reportedly confessed to his role in the security breach during his interrogation and has disclosed the details of his plan and his associates.

The Parliament Security Breach

On December 13, 2023, four men entered the Parliament House complex in New Delhi, claiming to be journalists. They carried fake press cards and IDs, which they had obtained from Jha, according to the police. They managed to evade the security checks and reached the visitors’ gallery, where they started shouting slogans such as “Khalistan Zindabad” and “Inquilab Zindabad”. They also threw pamphlets and banners, demanding the release of jailed Khalistani leaders and the recognition of Khalistan as a sovereign state.

The commotion disrupted the ongoing session of the Parliament, where the Prime Minister was about to address the members. The security personnel quickly intervened and apprehended the four men, who were later identified as Gurpreet Singh, Harpreet Singh, Jaspreet Singh, and Manpreet Singh. They were booked under various charges, including sedition, criminal conspiracy, and trespassing.

Parliament Security Breach incident
Parliament Security Breach incident

The police also launched a manhunt for Jha, who was suspected to be the mastermind behind the security breach. He had fled from his residence in Delhi after the incident and was on the run for two days. He was finally arrested from a hotel in Jaipur, Rajasthan, on December 15, 2023. He confessed to his involvement in the plot and revealed the names of his associates and contacts in the Khalistan movement. He also admitted that he had destroyed his phone and laptop on his way to Jaipur, to erase the evidence of his communication with the four men and other conspirators.

The Motive and the Fallout

According to the police, Lalit Jha’s motive behind the security breach was to create a sensation and draw international attention to the Khalistan cause. He also wanted to embarrass and challenge the Indian government and its authority. He had planned the security breach for months, with the help of his contacts in the Khalistan movement. He had also arranged for the fake press cards and IDs, which he had procured from a printing shop in Delhi.

The security breach has raised serious questions about the safety and security of the Parliament House, which is supposed to be one of the most guarded and fortified buildings in the country. The incident has also exposed the loopholes and lapses in the security system and the verification process of the visitors. The government has ordered a high-level inquiry into the matter and has assured that strict action will be taken against the culprits and the security personnel responsible for the breach.

The incident has also triggered a political storm, with the opposition parties accusing the government of failing to protect the sanctity and sovereignty of the Parliament. They have demanded the resignation of the Home Minister and the National Security Advisor, holding them accountable for the security lapse. They have also alleged that the security breach was a conspiracy by the government to divert attention from the burning issues of the country, such as the economic crisis, the pandemic, and the farmers’ agitation.

The incident has also evoked a strong reaction from the Sikh community, both in India and abroad. While some have condemned the security breach as a shameful and anti-national act, others have hailed it as a heroic and revolutionary act. The Khalistan supporters have claimed that the security breach was a symbolic gesture of their defiance and determination to achieve their goal of a separate homeland. They have also demanded that the government should release the four men and Jha, and initiate a dialogue with the Khalistan movement.

What is the legal status of Jha?

Lalit Jha has been booked under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, the Explosive Substances Act, the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, and the Official Secrets Act. He has been remanded to seven-day police custody by a Delhi court on December 15, 2023.

The police have also sought the assistance of the US authorities to probe Jha’s activities and connections in the US and to ascertain if he had any foreign funding or support for his plot. Jha has not hired any lawyer to defend him and has not applied for bail.

Who is Lalit Jha? A brief biography

Lalit Jha was born in Bihar, India, in 1988. He completed his graduation from Patna University and his post-graduation from Jawaharlal Nehru University in Delhi. He started his career as a journalist with the Press Trust of India (PTI) in 2001 and worked in various cities, such as Patna, Ranchi, Kolkata, and Mumbai. He moved to Washington DC in 2010 and became the chief US correspondent for PTI.

He also worked as a freelance writer for various publications, such as The Hindu, The Wire, and The Quint. He was known for his reporting on US politics, economy, and foreign policy, as well as the Indian diaspora and the Indo-US relations. He had interviewed several prominent personalities, such as former US President Barack Obama, former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and Nobel laureate Amartya Sen. He had also covered major events, such as the US presidential elections, the UN General Assembly, and the G20 summit.

Jha was married to Shweta Jha, a software engineer, and had two children, a son and a daughter. He lived in a rented apartment in Arlington, Virginia, and had a green card. He was known to be a voracious reader, a cricket enthusiast, and a yoga practitioner. He also authored a book, titled “The American Dream: From an Indian Perspective”, which was published in 2017.

What is the public reaction to Jha’s arrest?

Jha’s arrest has sparked a mixed reaction from the public, especially from the media fraternity and the Indian-American community. Some have expressed shock and disbelief at Jha’s involvement in such a heinous act, and have condemned his actions as an attack on democracy and journalism. They have also demanded a fair and transparent investigation into the case, and have urged the authorities to respect Jha’s human rights and due process of law.

Others have expressed skepticism and suspicion at Jha’s arrest, and have questioned the credibility and motive of the police. They have also raised doubts about the evidence and the confession, and have alleged that Jha is being framed and targeted for his critical views and reporting on the Indian government. They have also called for an independent and impartial probe into the case, and have appealed for Jha’s release and protection.

Current Status

Jha is currently in the custody of the Delhi Police, who are interrogating him and trying to unravel the extent and depth of his conspiracy. He is facing several charges, such as sedition, conspiracy, terrorism, waging war against the state, and attempt to murder.

He is also likely to face legal action from the US authorities, who have condemned his act and expressed their solidarity with India. He may also lose his job and his reputation as a journalist, and face the wrath of his family and friends.

He is also facing the ire of the public, who have denounced his act and demanded his strict punishment. He has also been criticized by his fellow journalists, who have accused him of tarnishing the image and credibility of the media.

Lalit Jha is a journalist who has been accused of masterminding a security breach at the Parliament House in India. He is currently in police custody and faces several charges. He has reportedly confessed to his role in the plot, but his arrest has also raised several questions and controversies. The case is still under investigation, and the truth is yet to be revealed.

Nisha Gupta

Nisha Gupta is a Journalist and Editor who writes about entertainment and lifestyle for Newsunzip.com. She has 10 years of experience in media and content editing. She finished her studies in English and International Studies at Delhi University in 2014. She also learned more about Public Relations and Copywriting. In 2022, she became the Best Entertainment Editor at Newsunzip.com. Contact Email: [email protected]

 

Expertise: Celebrities Explorer Online TV Show Analyst

 

Education

 

  • • BA English and International Studies, Delhi University (2011 - 2014).
  • • Journalism Diploma, National Institute of Mass Communication (2014).

 

Experience

 

  • • News writer at NDTV (2014 - 2018).
  • • Reporter and Author at Indian Express (2018 - 2021). 
  • • Editor and Journalist at Newsunzip (2021 - Present).

 

Highlights

 

  • • Nisha is good at writing about entertainment in detail.
  • • She writes interesting stories about famous people and what is happening in the industry.
  • • Gupta has a different way of looking at things that makes Newsunzip's content more varied.

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