AISA president Neha Bora told the Delhi High Court she was not involved in the Cockroach Janta Party's (CJP) protest call, challenging a notice directing her to furnish a Rs 10,000 personal bond after her October 16 detention. Her lawyer argued that her actions were peaceful and involved no breach of peace or incitement to violence.
Neha Bora was placed under preventive detention on October 16 while travelling to participate in the Cockroach Janata Party's (CJP) 'Lehra Do Tiranga', or 'Let the Tricolour Fly', march.
New Delhi,Oct 22, 2026 16:31 IST
All India Students Association (AISA) president Neha Bora on Thursday told the Delhi High Court that she was not involved in the Cockroach Janta Party's (CJP) protest call, challenging the notice issued to her after her detention on October 16. Her lawyer argued that she had not committed any offence or engaged in any activity that could be considered a breach of peace.
The Delhi High Court is hearing Bora's petition challenging a notice issued by a Special Executive Magistrate (SEM), directing her to execute a personal bond of Rs 10,000 and maintain peace. Bora received the notice on October 18, a day after she was released following her detention while marching towards Mandi House on October 16.
The notice cited repeated protests around Jantar Mantar, which has been de-notified as a protest site, and alleged that Bora had instigated people to go to Connaught Place despite prohibitory orders being in force there.
NO INCITEMENT TO VIOLENCE, BORA'S LAWYER TELLS COURT
Representing Bora, senior advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan told the court that she was detained barely 10 to 15 minutes after reaching Mandi House on the evening of October 16. He argued that she had not committed any offence, including a breach of peace, on that date.
Referring to a social media post announcing a gathering at Mandi House at 5 pm, Sankaranarayanan said the post merely stated, "see you today at 5 PM."
He argued that the post did not contain any call for violence, an attempt to disturb public peace or an invitation to gather to commit an offence.
"The original order passed did not include any of these areas," the lawyer said, referring to the grounds cited in the notice.
Sankaranarayanan also referred to a press conference held on October 15 and a social media post published the following day, arguing that Bora's activities had been peaceful.
LAWYER FLAGS RESTRICTIONS ON PROTEST SITES
The lawyer told the court that Jantar Mantar was an exempted area where processions could be held, while Mandi House and other locations were not part of that area.
He also pointed out that authorities had issued orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) in several parts of Delhi, restricting activities in notified areas.
Sankaranarayanan argued that Bora had made several public posts and participated in previous protests without facing objections. He said she was an active public figure and the president of AISA.
Referring to the wider protest movement, the lawyer said there had been no violence and that Bora's statements had remained measured, with calls focused on reform.
The petition challenges the notice issued by the SEM under Section 126 of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) directing Bora to furnish a personal bond of Rs 10,000 and maintain peace.
Bora's petition contends that the notice is vague and factually incorrect, with no material to establish that she was likely to breach the peace. The proceedings stem from allegations that she raised slogans at Mandi House, repeatedly protested near Jantar Mantar despite prohibitory orders, and encouraged people to join a protest at Connaught Place on October 16.
Section 126 allows the SEM to require a person to furnish such a bond when credible information suggests that the person is likely to breach the peace, disrupt public tranquillity or commit a wrongful act that could cause a disturbance.
Bora was placed under preventive detention on October 16 while travelling to participate in the Cockroach Janata Party's (CJP) 'Lehra Do Tiranga', or 'Let the Tricolour Fly', march. She was released the following day.
The petition alleged that the proceedings misused preventive powers to suppress peaceful dissent, violating Bora’s fundamental rights to freedom of speech and expression, peaceful assembly, and life under Articles 19(1)(a), 19(1)(b) and 21 of the Constitution.
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Inputs from Shambhavi Srivastava