Noida workers’ protest: SC keeps two accused in judicial custody after allegations of custodial violence

The Supreme Court on Tuesday ordered that Aditya Anand and Rupesh Roy, arrested in connection with last month’s industrial workers’ unrest in Noida, shall continue to remain in judicial custody after both alleged before the Court that they were subjected to custodial violence by the Uttar Pradesh Police during police custody.

A Bench of Justice B.V. Nagarathna and Justice Ujjal Bhuyan passed the order after interacting with the two accused, who were produced before the Court pursuant to its May 15 direction.

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The top court had earlier directed the Uttar Pradesh government to produce both accused before it after allegations of custodial torture were raised in a plea filed by Keshav Anand, brother of Aditya Anand.

During the hearing, senior advocate Colin Gonsalves, appearing for the petitioner, urged the Court to ensure that the accused were not sent back to police custody. He alleged that both men had been subjected to torture and ill-treatment while in police custody and sought an independent probe into the allegations.

Gonsalves also alleged that advocates attempting to meet the accused were manhandled and physically obstructed. Referring to the alleged incidents, he told the Court that the accused were taken out late at night and intimidated during custody.

The Bench thereafter interacted with Aditya Anand and Rupesh Roy in court, both informed the judges that they had been subjected to custodial violence and improper treatment during police custody. The Court observed that accused persons could not be treated in such a manner.

Additional Solicitor General K.M. Nataraj, appearing for the Uttar Pradesh government, submitted that every individual must be treated with dignity and defended the State’s conduct.

After hearing the parties, the Court directed that the judicial custody of both accused would continue pending further consideration of the matter and also directed them to cooperate with the investigation.

The case arises from protests by industrial workers in parts of Noida over demands for higher wages. The protests allegedly turned violent, with allegations of vandalism, stone-pelting and arson. Aditya Anand, a software engineer, and Rupesh Roy, an auto-rickshaw driver, are among those arrested in connection with the incident.