HC quashes Aakriti Chaudhary’s NSA detention

Prayagraj: The Allahabad High Court has quashed the National Security Act (NSA) detention of 25-year-old Delhi University history graduate Aakriti Chaudhary, who had spent nearly five months in custody over the April 2026 Noida workers’ protest.

Allowing her habeas corpus petition, a Bench of Justices Atul Sreedharan and Achal Sachdev ordered her immediate release unless she was required in any other case. The court found that the detention was based on a fabricated account presented by the state. The Bench examined the sequence of Chaudhary’s arrest and notices issued under the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) and found procedural lapses. The state claimed she was arrested at 10.56 am on April 12 and that a notice under Section 130 BNSS had been issued. However, the court found that the required notice under Section 126 had not been served before her arrest. The General Diary entry indicated that she had already been arrested before the notice was prepared.

The judges also questioned allegations that Chaudhary had instigated violence. They noted that the protest gathering took place on April 11, while the violence was reported only after her arrest.

The court had earlier asked the state to produce video evidence showing her provoking protesters to indulge in stone-pelting or arson. The state sought more time, but the Bench declined, citing her prolonged incarceration. Chaudhary and activist-journalist Satyam Verma were detained under the NSA on May 13 following their arrest in connection with the protest. Police claimed to possess strong electronic and videographic evidence against them, but did not produce such material before the court.

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