Allahabad HC quashes Aakriti Chaudhary’s detention under NSA post Noida workers’ protest

The Allahabad High Court on Wednesday (August 2, 2026) quashed the detention of Aakriti Chaudhary, a 25-year-old Delhi University history graduate who was taken into custody under the National Security Act in connection with the Noida workers' protest in April 2026.

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Allowing Ms. Chaudhary's habeas corpus petition challenging her arrest, a bench of Justices Atul Sreedharan and Achal Sachdev found that the detention was based on a story "concocted" by the State.

The court directed her immediate release if her arrest was not warranted in any other case. It also directed the State to pay her compensation of ₹5,000.