The Allahabad High Court on Tuesday sought video evidence from the Uttar Pradesh government to establish whether Aakriti Chaudhary (25), a Delhi University history graduate who has been booked under the National Security Act (NSA) in connection with the Noida workers' protest of April 2026, had instigated protesters to indulge in stone-pelting or set vehicles on fire.

A Bench of Justice Atul Sreedharan and Justice Achal Sachdev passed the order while hearing Chaudhary's habeas corpus petition challenging her continued detention. The Court was unconvinced regarding the state's version of her culpability in the violence.

During the hearing, the Bench questioned the State about the specific material supporting the allegations against Chaudhary, who has been in jail for around 5 months.

The Court asked the State where it was recorded that Chaudhary had called people and told them to throw stones. The Bench also questioned whether there was any material showing that she had asked protesters to set vehicles on fire.

When the State informed the Court that the chargesheet had been filed, the Bench observed that, once the chargesheet was filed, the State should have examined where the witnesses had specifically named Chaudhary.

"Once the chargesheet is filed, you should have seen where the witnesses have named her," Justice Sreedharan remarked.

The State then relied on the statements of the witnesses implicating her. The Bench, however, turned to the alleged videography of the incident and asked the State to point out where the footage showed Chaudhary allegedly instigating the protesters.

The Bench questioned whether the police had conducted videography of the incident and asked where the footage showed Chaudhary “bhadka rahi hain” (allegedly instigating the protesters).

The State submitted that it would obtain and place the video before the Court and sought time. The Bench, however, declined to grant further time.

Justice Sreedharan pointed out that Chaudhary had already been in custody for five months. He said:

"I won't give time. She has been in jail for 5 months".

The State then requested that the matter be taken up at 10 AM tomorrow. The Court agreed to hear the matter tomorrow at 10 AM.

Justice Sreedharan, however, orally added that if it comes out on the record that there had been an arbitrary exercise of power, the Court will impose costs on DM, SSP concerned.

Chaudhary, aged 25, is a history graduate from Delhi University and has been detained under the stringent NSA in connection with the workers' protest in Noida in April this year. Her habeas corpus petition challenges the legality of her continued detention.

It may be noted that on May 13, the Uttar Pradesh Police invoked the National Security Act, 1980, against two activists, Journalist Satyam Verma and Choudhary, who were arrested in connection with the Noida workers' protest.

The two were among seven activists arrested by the UP Police in various cases registered in connection with the protest.

Gautam Buddh Nagar Commissioner of Police Laxmi Singh had claimed before the media that the police had "strong electronic and videographic evidence" against Verma and Choudhary, as well as 65 other persons arrested in connection with the cases so far.