New Delhi, May 25, 2026 — A Delhi court on Monday convicted former Congress MLA and Mahila Congress national president Alka Lamba in a case related to a protest held at Jantar Mantar in March 2024 over the demand for women’s reservation in Parliament. The verdict comes nearly two years after the incident and follows a protracted legal process that included the framing of charges in December 2025.
Additional Sessions Judge Dig Vinay Singh of the Rouse Avenue Courts delivered the conviction after concluding that the prosecution had established its case beyond reasonable doubt. The court is now scheduled to hear arguments on sentencing on June 5, 2026. Earlier, on February 7, 2026, the same court had upheld the framing of criminal charges against Lamba, rejecting her plea challenging the magistrate’s order. The Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Ashwani Panwar had framed charges on December 19, 2025, under sections related to assault on public servants, obstruction of government officials in the discharge of their duties, and disobedience of lawful orders.
The case originated from an FIR registered at the Parliament Street Police Station following a protest at Jantar Mantar during the 2024 Lok Sabha election period. The protest, led by Lamba as National President of Mahila Congress, was organised to demand the implementation of the women’s reservation bill. According to the prosecution, Lamba participated in the protest despite prohibitory orders in force at the site, leading to the registration of the FIR in July 2024.
In her statement after the verdict, Lamba maintained that the conviction was politically motivated and an attempt to silence dissent. She said, “This is exactly what I expected would happen. It's a case from July 2024, the monsoon session was underway, and as the National President of Mahila Congress, all my sisters and I were protesting at Jantar Mantar under constitutional democratic rights, demanding the implementation of women's reservation and security for women. It was then that the police, under pressure in the case, filed an FIR and a chargesheet against me. Today, I found out that I've been found guilty — this is a very big crime. I'm not one to be scared; give me whatever punishment you want. It's a matter of women's safety.”
Lamba further added, “There's chaos and cries for help across the entire country because of this, and if we fight, we're held guilty.” The Congress leader has consistently denied all allegations and maintained her innocence throughout the trial, arguing that she was falsely implicated.
The prosecution had contended that Lamba’s participation in the protest, held during the monsoon session of Parliament, violated prohibitory orders and obstructed public servants from performing their duties. The court, in its earlier order upholding the charges, had noted that there was no illegality or error in the magistrate’s decision to frame charges.
The legal proceedings had seen Lamba’s statement recorded in April 2026 after the framing of charges. The case has drawn attention due to its timing — coinciding with national debates on women’s safety and representation — and the high-profile nature of the accused, who has been a vocal advocate for women’s rights within the Indian National Congress.
As the court prepares to hear arguments on sentencing, the verdict has reignited discussions on the use of legal mechanisms in regulating protests, especially those led by women’s rights activists. The outcome of the sentencing hearing on June 5, 2026, is expected to be keenly watched, with potential implications for future protest movements and the legal treatment of political dissent.
