SC seeks production of 2 accused in NOIDA workers’ protest case amid custodial torture allegations

The Supreme Court on Friday directed the Uttar Pradesh government to produce before it two accused — Aditya Anand and Rupesh Roy — who were arrested in connection with last month’s NOIDA workers’ protest, which had allegedly turned violent, amid allegations that they were subjected to custodial torture by the police.

A Bench comprising Justice B.V. Nagarathna and Justice Ujjal Bhuyan ordered that both Aditya Anand and Rupesh Roy be produced before the court on May 18 at 2:00 PM.

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The court’s order came on a petition filed by Keshav Anand, brother of Aditya Anand, alleging that his brother had been subjected to custodial torture by the state police. Aditya Anand has been accused of inciting protests by workers in NOIDA demanding higher wages.

Seeking an independent probe, senior advocate Colin Gonsalves, appearing for petitioner Keshav Anand, told the Bench that Aditya, in his speeches during the protests, had merely spoken about workers’ rights, and recordings of those speeches were available to establish their veracity. The court was also informed that Aditya Anand is an engineer who runs a library for children.

The Bench was further told that lawyers appearing for Aditya were being physically obstructed and even manhandled within the court premises. This prompted Justice Bhuyan to ask, “Why are lawyers being treated like this?”

Both the Uttar Pradesh government and the state police denied the allegations of custodial torture, stating that due process of law had been followed.

Rejecting the allegation that the grounds of arrest had not been furnished to Aditya at the time of his arrest, the state government asserted that all procedural safeguards had been complied with.

During the hearing, the arrest of journalist Satyam Verma, who was booked under the National Security Act (NSA) in connection with the case, was also mentioned before the court. Counsel appearing for Verma questioned the invocation of the NSA against the journalist and alleged that FIRs had been selectively registered in the matter.

The court was informed that a habeas corpus petition had already been filed before the Allahabad High Court in Verma’s case. The Bench observed that it would look into the matter if a petition were filed before the Supreme Court.