Noida workers’ protest: SC agrees to examine journalist’s NSA detention, denies interim relief

The Supreme Court on Tuesday agreed to examine a plea challenging the preventive detention of former journalist Satyam Verma under the National Security Act in connection with the Noida workers’ protest violence case, but refused to grant him interim relief, Live Law reported.

A bench of Justices BV Nagarathna and Ujjal Bhuyan issued a notice to the Uttar Pradesh government and the Union government on a petition filed by Verma’s wife challenging the detention order, Bar and Bench reported.

“For now, we can’t grant you any interim relief because the validity of the detention order has to be seen,” Live Law quoted Nagarathna as having told the petitioner.

The protest had been held on April 13.

The 60-year-old former journalist from Lucknow was among two persons detained under the National Security Act on May 13. The Act allows for long periods of detention without trial up to a year.

Verma and 25-year-old Aakriti Chaudhary are members of the Mazdoor Bigul Dasta, a workers’ organisation.

The police alleged that the role played by the two was “significant in instigating violence, arson and creating chaos” during the protest. Verma and Chaudhary “provoked” persons in different areas to “disturb public order”, the police alleged.

The police have also alleged that Verma received money from foreign accounts to incite the violence, Bar and Bench reported.

The detention order further accused him...

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