Allahabad High Court Quashes NSA Charges Against DU Student Akriti Chaudhary
The Allahabad High Court has quashed the National Security Act charges against 25-year-old Delhi University student Akriti Chaudhary, who was arrested in April by police from the Botanical Garden metro station in Noida following a workers' protest.
Speaking from behind an iron mesh barrier at the prison in Greater Noida, where she was waiting to meet friends and family, Ms. Chaudhary expressed relief over the court's decision but maintained that her fight would continue until all other arrested workers and activists are released. She also expressed hope that Satyam Verma, against whom the stringent law was invoked on May 13 alongside her, would soon be cleared of all charges.
Ms. Chaudhary's father, Arun Chaudhary, supported his daughter following the ruling, stating that she had always acted with the family's backing and that he retained full faith in the justice system. Her friend Naureen, a history graduate, noted that Ms. Chaudhary, a sensitive and cheerful person, sought only to create a better society and never posed a threat to national security.
During her time in custody, Ms. Chaudhary remained active inside the facility alongside fellow inmates Manisha Chauhan and Srishti, who were also detained by Uttar Pradesh police in protest-related cases. Together, they took the initiative to cook, clean, and teach the children of women inmates. They also restarted a defunct prison library, organised vocational training in tailoring and cosmetics, and introduced discussions, poetry, and poster-making to help ease the distress of women separated from their families.
Originally from Durgapur in West Bengal, Ms. Chaudhary is a first-year LLB student at Delhi University's Law Faculty and previously studied history at Daulat Ram College. She is also a theatre practitioner associated with the Disha Students' Organisation.
Police had arrested Ms. Chaudhary from the Botanical Garden metro station on April 11, two days prior to the outbreak of violence linked to the demonstration.
