Prayagraj, Sep 2 The Allahabad High Court on Wednesday quashed the detention of Aakriti Chaudhary, a 25-year-old Delhi University history graduate who was taken into custody under the National Security Act in connection with the Noida workers' protest in April 2026.
Allowing Chaudhary's habeas corpus petition challenging her arrest, a bench of Justices Atul Sreedharan and Achal Sachdev found that the detention was based on a story "concocted" by the state.
The court directed her immediate release if her arrest was not warranted in any other case. It also directed the state to pay her compensation of Rs 5,000.
The development came as the bench found several lapses after closely examining the sequence of Chaudhary's arrest and the notices issued to her under the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS).
The detailed order is awaited.
During Wednesday's hearing, the state counsel informed the court that Chaudhary was arrested at 10.56 am on April 12, 2026, and that a notice was issued to her as per law. The state alleged that she had instigated the mob to resort to arson and stone-pelting.
The court observed that a proper notice under BNSS Section 126 was not served on the petitioner. It said the General Diary entry appeared to show that Chaudhary had already been arrested before the notice was prepared.
On Tuesday's hearing, the court asked the state to produce video footage specifically indicating that Chaudhary instigated protesters to pelt stones or set vehicles on fire. When the state sought time to produce the video, the bench declined to grant more time, noting that the petitioner had already spent five months in jail.
Earlier, the bench had asked the state where it was recorded that Chaudhary had called people and asked them to pelt stones and set vehicles on fire.
The state said the chargesheet had been filed, to which Justice Sreedharan replied, "Once the chargesheet is filed, you should have seen where the witnesses have named her."
The state then relied on witness statements naming Chaudhary.
However, the bench specifically asked for videography showing her allegedly instigating protesters.
