Noida: A second-year Gautam Buddha University (GBU) student was served a notice on Sept 4 for allegedly spreading anti-govt information and instigating students to participate in a protest organised by Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) in Delhi’s Jantar Mantar over NEET exam paper leaks in July. The notice was cancelled on Sept 5 after a police inquiry found the information on which it was based to be false.The notice, issued by an executive magistrate under BNSS Section 130 on Sept 4, stated that a report submitted by Ecotech 1 station house officer Arvind Verma and a sub-inspector alleged that Akshat Tripathi, a second-year LLB student of the university, was involved in spreading anti-govt information and encouraging students to join the CJP protest that created “considerable tension” on campus and a possibility of a confrontation, which could disturb public peace and order.It asked Tripathi to explain why he should not be directed to furnish a personal bond of Rs 5 lakh and two sureties of an equal amount, undertaking that he would maintain peace for six months.The orders were issued under BNSS sections 126 (to show cause why they should not execute a bond or bail bond for keeping the peace) and 135 (inquiry into the truth of information for keeping public peace). Section 130 allows a magistrate to issue a formal written order when asking a person to show cause to maintain peace or good behaviour.On Tuesday, police clarified the proceedings did not continue after they visited his Noida house and conducted an enquiry into the allegations. An official told TOI the information in the initial report was found to be false, following which the notice was cancelled on Sept 5, and no action was taken against the student.Tripathi, meanwhile, told TOI that he left the GBU campus on May 25 for a three-month semester break. “During this entire period, I was in Allahabad. On July 20, I attended the CJP protest in Delhi’s Jantar Mantar. I fail to understand the basis on which such a notice has been issued to me,” he said. “If I was not present on campus during the period in question, and the university itself was closed for the semester break, on what basis have these allegations been made against me?”Tripathi claimed he had not received any notice revoking the Sept 4 order yet.The notice also drew criticism from Students Federation of India (SFI), which described it as a “repressive action” by govt and UP Police. “Questioning govt and demanding accountability is now a crime in India,” Partha Sarathi Dwivedi, SFI state president, said.
