Prayagraj: Allahabad high court has granted bail to Himanshu Thakur, a member of the workers’ union Mazdoor Bigul Dasta, in two cases arising out of the April 2026 workers’ protest in Noida.With the bail orders in both cases, Thakur is set to be released from jail as no other criminal case is pending against him.In separate orders passed by Justice Avnish Saxena and Justice Krishan Pahal, the court noted that no specific role had been attributed to Thakur in the alleged mob violence, despite the state’s opposition to his bail plea on the basis of his social media activities.Thakur was arrested on April 17 in connection with Case Crime Nos. 164 and 165, both registered at Phase-2 police station in Gautam Budh Nagar district.According to the FIRs, a large group of workers gathered at industrial establishments in Noida, allegedly indulged in stone-pelting, damaged company property and assaulted employees as well as police personnel. The cases were registered under various provisions of the BNS, the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act and the Criminal Law Amendment Act.On Aug 7, Justice Krishan Pahal granted bail to Thakur in Case Crime No. 164. The court noted that a similarly placed co-accused, Ravi Kumar Rathore, had already been granted bail by a coordinate bench and observed that Thakur’s criminal history “stands explained”.The court directed his release upon furnishing a personal bond and two sureties, subject to conditions that he would neither tamper with evidence nor influence witnesses.Subsequently, on Aug 20, Justice Avnish Saxena granted bail in Case Crime No. 165. Opposing the plea, the state argued that Thakur was “instrumental in spreading violence throughout the state through the social media handle” and had used the internet to spread hatred.However, the court observed that no specific role had been assigned to Thakur in the FIR, which alleged the involvement of a mob comprising 450 to 500 people.Considering the mob violence wherein no specific role is attributed to the accused applicant, Justice Saxena allowed the bail, reiterating the same bond and surety conditions.During the hearing, Thakur’s counsel challenged the prosecution’s reliance on recoveries made from his residence, including electronic devices, books and union literature. The defence argued that no weapons, explosives or incriminating digital communications had been recovered.The defence further contended that neither the FIR nor witness statements placed Thakur at the scene of the alleged stone-pelting, gate-breaking or vehicle-burning incidents.The state, meanwhile, referred to Thakur’s association with Mazdoor Bigul, Disha Students Organisation and Naujavan Bharat Sabha, as well as his participation in discussions on the “Bigul Mazdoor Dasta” forum. It argued that he played a key role in coordinating the protests and spreading hatred online.The HC directed Thakur to cooperate with the trial proceedings. The bail conditions require him to appear before the trial court whenever required, with any violation liable to result in cancellation of bail.The cases will now proceed to trial, where the prosecution will be required to establish direct evidence linking Thakur to the alleged acts of violence.The court’s observation that mere association with organisations or social media activity does not, by itself, establish active participation in violent incidents could have a bearing on other bail applications arising from the same protest.
