Show-cause notice to student who took part in CJP protest, revoked later

The Greater Noida Executive Magistrate served a show‑cause notice to 20‑year‑old Akshat Tripathi, a second‑year law student at Gautam Buddha University, alleging he spread anti‑government statements that could disturb public peace during the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protests in July. The notice, dated September 4, invoked the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) Section 130 and required Tripathi to furnish a personal bond of Rs 5 lakh along with two solvent sureties for a six‑month period.

Police records indicate the notice was issued under BNSS Sections 126 and 135, which allow magistrates to inquire into wrongful restraint and consider preventive bonds. The demand for a Rs 5 lakh bond and two equal‑value sureties followed an initial investigation that claimed Tripathi was inciting students at the university. However, the magistrate’s order was withdrawn on September 5 after the police concluded the allegations lacked sufficient basis. This development occurred shortly after the Supreme Court’s September 1 judgment that dismissed all FIRs against participants of the CJP protests held between July 20‑25, except for individuals with existing criminal records.

The incident unfolds against a backdrop of nationwide student activism sparked by the CJP movement, which saw protests across several campuses. Tripathi, who resides in Allahabad, denied ever being on the university campus during the protest period, citing a holiday and online classes. CJP co‑convener Saurav Das publicly challenged the magistrate’s action, referencing the Supreme Court’s blanket immunity order and urging the Union Government to intervene. The episode highlights tensions between law‑enforcement agencies and student demonstrators, raising questions about the application of preventive legal measures in the wake of high‑court directives.