Archive · 8 Sep 2026
High Court Quashes Student Detention, Congress Targets Election Chief’s Daughter
A student named Aakriti Chaudhary was detained after a workers’ protest in Noida.
Officials used a strict national-security law to keep her in custody.
The Allahabad High Court said this was not properly justified.
It said her basic constitutional rights had been violated.
The court cancelled the detention order and awarded her Rs 5 lakh.
The money must be recovered from the officials involved in detaining her.
The court also criticized the district magistrate, Medha Roopam, very strongly.
Congress leaders attacked Roopam and mentioned that she is the daughter of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
Chaudhary is still in custody because of other criminal cases linked to the protest.
The Allahabad High Court quashed Aakriti Chaudhary’s detention under the National Security Act and awarded her Rs 5 lakh in compensation.
The court said the detention violated her Article 21 rights and lacked supporting material, calling the district magistrate’s conduct “despotic.”
It ordered the compensation to be recovered from Noida district magistrate Medha Roopam and other officials involved, including police personnel.
Congress leaders targeted Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar because Roopam is his daughter, accusing both of undermining democracy and due process.
The court said authorities could not produce WhatsApp messages or videos showing Chaudhary had incited violence; she remains in custody in connection with 11 FIRs.
- Who
- Delhi University student activist Aakriti Chaudhary, Noida district magistrate Medha Roopam, the Allahabad High Court, and Congress leaders including Pawan Khera and Shama Mohamed.
- What
- The court quashed Chaudhary’s preventive detention under the National Security Act, awarded her Rs 5 lakh, and ordered recovery of the money from officials involved.
- When
- Chaudhary was taken into custody on April 11 and detained under the National Security Act on May 13; the court ruling was reported as occurring last week, while Congress criticism followed on Tuesday.
- Where
- The case concerns Noida in Gautam Buddha Nagar, Uttar Pradesh, and was decided by the Allahabad High Court.
- Why
- The court found that the detention lacked supporting material, showed non-application of mind, and violated Chaudhary’s fundamental right under Article 21.
- Student
- Aakriti Chaudhary, a Delhi University history graduate and first-year law student
- Detention law
- National Security Act
- Compensation
- Rs 5 lakh, to be recovered from the salaries of officials involved
- Court finding
- The detention violated Article 21 and lacked supporting material
- Unresolved custody
- Chaudhary remains in judicial custody in connection with 11 FIRs
- Political reaction
- Congress leaders targeted Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar because Medha Roopam is his daughter