Archive · 17 Sep 2026
Noida Protest Case Pits State Conspiracy Claims Against Families
Police say a workers’ protest in Noida became violent because several organisers planned and encouraged the unrest.
They named seven people as important suspects in the alleged conspiracy.
One accused, Aakriti Chaudhary, was held under a national-security law.
The Allahabad High Court said the evidence used for that detention was not strong enough and cancelled it.
The court also ordered compensation for her.
Her family says she taught children and helped poor communities.
Other families say their relatives studied, worked and helped workers or neighbours.
The criminal cases are still continuing, and higher courts may review the High Court decision.
The police named Aakriti Chaudhary, Shrishti Gupta, Manisha Chauhan, Aditya Anand, Satyam Verma, Himanshu Thakur and Rupesh as alleged main conspirators in the Noida protest violence.
The Allahabad High Court quashed Aakriti Chaudhary’s detention under the National Security Act, calling the supporting material speculative and unsupported.
The court ordered Rs. 5 lakh compensation for Chaudhary and directed that it be recovered from the salaries of responsible officials.
Police say the April 13 violence resulted from a conspiracy involving organisers who mobilised workers, circulated messages and coordinated unrest.
Families and Chaudhary’s lawyer deny the allegations, describing the accused as educators, workers’ supporters and students; related criminal cases remain pending.
- Who
- Police accused Aakriti Chaudhary, Shrishti Gupta, Manisha Chauhan, Aditya Anand, Satyam Verma, Himanshu Thakur and Rupesh of being main conspirators; their families dispute the allegations.
- What
- The case concerns alleged conspiracy and violence connected to a workers’ protest, along with Aakriti Chaudhary’s detention under the National Security Act.
- When
- The protest violence occurred on April 13; the Allahabad High Court issued its detention ruling on September 2.
- Where
- The protest and related criminal cases are in Noida, in Gautam Buddha Nagar, Uttar Pradesh; Chaudhary was held in Gautam Buddha Nagar’s Luksar jail.
- Why
- Police say organisers coordinated workers and helped cause the violence, while the families and Chaudhary’s lawyer say the accused were wrongly implicated.
Families and Defense
Police and Authorities
Nature of the accused
Families and Defense
Families describe the accused as educators, students, workers’ supporters and people who helped marginalised communities.
Police and Authorities
Police describe them as key organisers who mobilised workers, circulated messages and coordinated the unrest.
Evidence of violence
Families and Defense
Chaudhary’s lawyer, Colin Gonsalves, said the material reviewed by the court did not show her involvement in violence.
Police and Authorities
Police maintain that the April 13 violence was part of a conspiracy rather than a spontaneous event.
National Security Act detention
Families and Defense
The High Court found the material against Chaudhary speculative and unsupported, and said the authorities had not properly applied their minds.
Police and Authorities
The district magistrate and the Centre are challenging the High Court ruling, indicating that authorities continue to defend the detention decision.
- Protest date
- April 13
- Main location
- Noida, Gautam Buddha Nagar, Uttar Pradesh
- High Court action
- Quashed Aakriti Chaudhary’s National Security Act detention
- Compensation ordered
- Rs. 5 lakh
- Police allegation
- A conspiracy involving organisers who mobilised workers and coordinated unrest
- Current status
- The High Court ruling is being challenged, while related criminal cases continue
- Named alleged conspirators
- Aakriti Chaudhary, Shrishti Gupta, Manisha Chauhan, Aditya Anand, Satyam Verma, Himanshu Thakur and Rupesh