The Allahabad High Court has given major relief to Delhi University student and social activist Aakriti Chaudhary in the Noida workers’ violence case. The court on Wednesday quashed the detention order issued against her under the National Security Act (NSA).
According to Live Law, the court said Chaudhary’s detention was based on a fabricated story presented by the state. The court said she should be released immediately if she is not required in any other case.
A division bench of Justice Atul Sreedharan and Justice Achal Sachdev also ordered compensation of Rs 5 lakh for Chaudhary. The court directed that the amount be recovered from the salary of Noida District Magistrate Medha Rupam.
Allahabad High Court Questions Aakriti Chaudhary’s Arrest
The case is linked to a violent workers’ protest in Noida on April 13, 2026. Chaudhary and Lucknow-based journalist Satyam Verma were booked under the NSA in connection with the case. They faced allegations of using social media to provoke workers. Foreign funding allegations were also made against them.
Chaudhary was reportedly detained near a Metro station on April 11. The Uttar Pradesh government, however, told the High Court that she was formally arrested at 10:56 am on April 12. The state said police had also issued her a notice under Section 130 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS). Police alleged that she had encouraged a crowd of workers to engage in stone-pelting and arson.
Court Raises Questions Over BNSS Notice Procedure
During the hearing, Justice Atul Sreedharan asked whether Chaudhary had earlier been issued a notice under Section 126 of the BNSS. The state government denied that such a notice had been issued.
Section 126 deals with steps related to maintaining peace and public order. The court observed that the process under this provision was important before action could be taken under Section 130. The bench also examined entries in the police general diary.
After reviewing the records, the court raised serious questions over the government’s version of events. The court observed that it appeared Chaudhary may have been arrested first and the notice procedure may have followed later. It also questioned the allegation that she had provoked workers into violence.
“Violence Happened After Her Arrest”: High Court Questions State
The Uttar Pradesh government argued that people had started gathering for the protest on April 11. Justice Sreedharan then questioned what violence Chaudhary had allegedly provoked on April 11 if no violence had taken place that day.
The court noted the apparent contradiction in the timeline. The alleged violence, according to the sequence discussed during the hearing, took place after Chaudhary had already been arrested. This became one of the key issues raised by the High Court while examining the NSA detention order.
Court Seeks Video Evidence Against Aakriti Chaudhary
During Tuesday’s hearing, the court had asked the Uttar Pradesh government to show videos that could establish that Chaudhary had encouraged protesters to throw stones or set vehicles on fire.
The government sought more time to produce the videos. However, the court refused the request, noting that Chaudhary had already spent nearly five months in jail.
The court also asked where the records showed that Chaudhary had called people and asked them to engage in stone-pelting. It further questioned whether there was any evidence showing her asking protesters to set vehicles on fire.
The state government informed the court that a chargesheet had already been filed in the case. Justice Sreedharan then said the court needed to examine the basis on which witnesses had named Chaudhary in the chargesheet. The state referred to witness statements that allegedly mentioned her name.
However, the court again asked what exactly the video evidence showed and how it proved that Chaudhary had incited protesters to commit violence.
Who Is Aakriti Chaudhary?
Aakriti Chaudhary is a postgraduate in History from Delhi University. She was among several activists arrested in connection with the Noida workers’ protest case. The Uttar Pradesh Police invoked the NSA against her on May 13. Similar action was also taken against activist and journalist Satyam Verma.
At the time, Noida Police Commissioner Laxmi Singh had said that police had strong electronic and video evidence against Chaudhary, Verma and other accused persons. After three or four bail pleas were rejected by a Noida sessions court, Chaudhary approached the Supreme Court.
The Supreme Court did not directly grant her bail and advised her to approach the High Court. She then moved the Allahabad High Court and challenged her arrest and detention.
Wednesday’s order has now brought major relief to Chaudhary, with the High Court cancelling her NSA detention and ordering compensation.
Sudeep Singh Rawat is a Copy Editor at NewsX Digital with over five years of experience in digital journalism. He covers national and international news, with a focus on politics, crime, technology, public affairs, and trending topics. Before joining NewsX Digital, he worked with Business Standard, The Sunday Guardian, and other digital media organisations. His reporting focuses on breaking news, enterprise stories, and explainers that inform readers through accurate, balanced, and context-driven journalism.
