The Supreme Court of India on Friday directed the Uttar Pradesh government to produce two men arrested in connection with the violent industrial workers’ protests that rocked Noida last month. The order comes in response to a plea alleging that the accused were subjected to custodial violence by the state police.
A bench comprising Justices BV Nagarathna and Ujjal Bhuyan has instructed the counsel for the Uttar Pradesh government to produce Aditya Anand and Rupesh Roy before the court on May 18 at 2 PM.
Allegations of Custodial Violence
The intervention by the top court follows a petition filed by Keshaw Anand, the brother of the accused Aditya Anand. The plea alleges that Aditya was subjected to torture by Uttar Pradesh Police officials following his arrest.
Representing Anand, senior advocate Colin Gonsalves sought an independent investigation into the matter. Gonsalves described Aditya as an engineer who also dedicated his time to running a library for children. The counsel argued that Aditya’s participation in the protests was centered strictly on workers’ rights, asserting that recordings of his speeches are available to support this claim.
In response, the Uttar Pradesh government’s counsel refuted all allegations of custodial torture, maintaining that the police followed due legal process during and after the arrests.
The Backdrop of Unrest
The arrests are linked to the widespread industrial unrest that broke out in Noida on April 13. According to police data, a massive mobilization of approximately 40,000 to 45,000 workers gathered across more than 80 locations under the Gautam Buddh Nagar Police Commissionerate. The demonstrations reportedly escalated into violence, arson, and a significant disruption of public order.
While police have identified Aditya Anand as a suspected mastermind behind the incidents, the investigation has expanded to include several other high-profile figures.
Foreign Funding and NSA Charges
In a parallel development, the Gautam Buddh Nagar Police revealed on Thursday that they are investigating a potential foreign funding trail. Officials claim that over ₹1 crore in foreign currency—including dollars, pounds, and euros—was credited to the personal bank account of Satyam Verma, a journalist arrested in connection with the unrest.
Police statement indicated that Verma, an active member of the left-wing workers’ rights group Bigul Mazdoor Dasta, allegedly transferred these funds across multiple personal accounts. Verma was arrested in Lucknow on April 19 alongside fellow member Himanshu Thakur.
Authorities have since invoked the stringent National Security Act (NSA), 1980, against Verma and student activist Akriti Choudhary. Police allege both individuals played “pivotal roles” in orchestrating the violence and arson during the April 13 agitation. Several organizations associated with the accused are currently under intensive scrutiny as the investigation continues.
