Noida workers’ protest case: Allahabad HC adjourns bail plea plearing of scribe Satyam Verma

The Allahabad High Court on Tuesday (September 15, 2026) deferred the hearing on the bail plea of freelance translator and former journalist Satyam Verma in one of the 11 criminal cases registered against him in connection with the April 2026 Noida workers’ protest after the state counsel sought an opportunity to file objections to his bail plea on the ground of parity.

A plea has been taken by counsel for Mr. Verma that he should be granted bail on parity with a co-accused who had been granted bail in the same case on June 23.

However, after the state counsel later sought an opportunity to oppose bail on the grounds of parity, the matter was posted by the court for consideration on the State’s objections on September 23.

However, Satyam Verma is not expected to walk out of jail even if he secures bail in the present case as he remains in custody in connection with other criminal cases. He has also been separately detained under the National Security Act (NSA).

A Bench of Justice Krishan Pahal was hearing Verma’s bail plea in Case Crime No. 164 of 2026, registered at Police Station Phase-2, Gautam Buddh Nagar. The FIR has invoked several provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), Section 7 of the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act and Sections 3/4 of the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act.

On June 23, the High Court had granted bail to co-accused Shiv Kumar, also known as Shiva, in the same case.

In that order, the Court noted that Shiv Kumar was not named in the FIR and the FIR had been lodged against a mob. He had been in jail since April 14.

Mr. Verma, who is also the editor of Mazdoor Bigul Dasta, was arrested in Lucknow on April 17 in connection with cases arising from the workers’ protest. He was subsequently booked separately under the NSA on May 13 along with student activist Akriti Chaudhary.

However, Ms. Chaudhary’s NSA detention was quashed by the Allahabad High Court on September 2, which also made strong remarks against Noida District Magistrate Medha Roopam and criticised the manner in which the detention order was passed.

The Uttar Pradesh Police has alleged that Mr. Verma played an important role in the violence, arson and spread of disorder during the workers’ protest and attempted to disrupt public order by allegedly provoking people in various areas.

The workers were protesting for a wage hike and improved working conditions.

According to media reports, incidents including vehicle burning, trespassing and stone pelting were reported at some places on April 13, following which police lathi-charged workers and detained hundreds of workers and seven activists.