Archive · 25 Jun 2025
JNU Cook Arrested in Error During Emergency Raid
In 1975, during the Emergency in India, police raided JNU, looking for people they thought were causing trouble.
They mistakenly arrested the cook of a professor named Sondhi.
The police thought students were hiding weapons, but it was not true.
Many students and others were arrested without a trial.
They were later released because university officials explained that there was no conspiracy.
The Emergency, which lasted for 21 months, took away people's rights and put many in jail.
Delhi Police mistakenly arrested Prof. Sondhi's cook during a JNU raid in 1975.
The raid was based on false intelligence about weapon stockpiling by JNU students.
Historian Sohail Hashmi was also detained during the raid under the Defence of India Rules.
Most detainees were later granted bail after university officials intervened.
The Emergency, declared in 1975, suspended rights and imprisoned many.
- Who
- Delhi Police, Prof. ML Sondhi, Sohail Hashmi, JNU students and officials, the cook
- What
- Delhi Police mistakenly arrested Prof. Sondhi's cook during a JNU raid during the Emergency.
- When
- During the early days of the Emergency, July 8, 1975.
- Where
- Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), Delhi, India
- Why
- Police were acting on false intelligence, seeking individuals believed to be involved in a political conspiracy.
Government/Police
Detainees/Accused
Mistake
Government/Police
Police were acting on intelligence to maintain order.
Detainees/Accused
Misidentification and unjust arrest of an innocent individual.
- Event
- JNU Raid
- Date of Raid
- July 8, 1975
- Location
- Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU)
- Reason for Raid
- False intelligence about weapons
- Detained under
- Defence of India Rules (DIR), 1969
- Emergency start
- June 25, 1975
