The court described the State’s case against Aakriti Chaudhary as a “concocted story” and questioned the evidence used to justify her detention in connection with Noida workers’ protests.
BY PC Bureau
New Delhi, September 3: The Allahabad High Court has quashed the preventive detention of Delhi University graduate and activist Aakriti Chaudhary under the National Security Act (NSA) and directed that ₹5 lakh be paid to her as compensation, with the amount to be recovered from the salaries of officials involved in ordering her detention.
Among the officials from whose salary the compensation is to be recovered is Gautam Buddh Nagar District Magistrate Medha Roopam, who is the daughter of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
A division bench of Justices Atul Sreedharan and Achal Sachdev passed the order while hearing Chaudhary’s habeas corpus petition challenging her detention. The court described the State’s case against her as a “concocted story” and directed her release if she was not required in any other case.
Chaudhary, 25, had been arrested in connection with the workers’ protests in Noida in April. The Uttar Pradesh Police accused her of instigating protesters to indulge in violence, including stone-pelting and arson, and subsequently invoked the stringent NSA against her.
The High Court, however, questioned the evidence presented by the State to establish her alleged role in the violence. During the proceedings, the bench asked the prosecution to produce video footage purportedly showing Chaudhary instigating protesters to engage in violent acts.
नोएडा मजदूर आंदोलन के मामले में DU की छात्रा आकृति चौधरी पर NSA लगाया गया और करीब 5 महीने जेल में रखा गया
अब इलाहाबाद हाईकोर्ट ने NSA की हिरासत को न सिर्फ रद्द किया बल्कि सरकार की कहानी को “मनगढ़ंत” बताया और ₹5 लाख मुआवज़े का आदेश दिया
योगी जी, क्या मिला औंधे मुँह गिर के? pic.twitter.com/mmy1PnB1cP
— Supriya Shrinate (@SupriyaShrinate) September 3, 2026
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The State failed to produce the video evidence when asked to do so. The court also examined procedural irregularities surrounding her arrest and the preventive-detention proceedings. Reports said the bench found that the material before it did not establish a sufficient basis for invoking the NSA against Chaudhary.
The court’s compensation order goes beyond merely setting aside the detention. According to Chaudhary’s lawyers, the ₹5 lakh amount is to be recovered from the salaries of officials involved in the detention process, beginning with the concerned Station House Officer and extending up to the District Magistrate.
Medha Roopam, as Gautam Buddh Nagar DM, was among the officials involved in the detention process. Her father, Gyanesh Kumar, is the current Chief Election Commissioner of India.
The case stems from protests by workers in Noida demanding better wages and working conditions. Chaudhary had attended a demonstration in solidarity with the workers, but police subsequently alleged that she played a role in instigating violence.
Her lawyers argued that there was no credible evidence linking her to the alleged acts of violence. The High Court’s ruling effectively rejected the State’s justification for her preventive detention under the NSA.
The order does not necessarily mean Chaudhary will walk out of jail immediately. She has been named in 11 FIRs related to the Noida protests and, according to her lawyers, has obtained bail in five of those cases, while bail applications in six others remain pending.
The ruling has put the spotlight on the use of preventive detention powers and the accountability of officials who approve such orders. By directing that compensation be recovered from the salaries of the officials concerned, the High Court has also raised questions about personal accountability for the misuse of state power.
The detailed written judgment had not yet been uploaded on the Allahabad High Court website at the time of reports on Thursday.
