Neha Bora, President of the All India Students’ Association (AISA) on Monday knocked on the doors of the Delhi High COurt (HC), challenging a notice issued to her by the police, which directed her to furnish a personal bond of Rs 10,000 along with one surety to maintain peace during an ongoing probe following her participation in a flag march in the national capital.

Notably, the notice had been served on Bora by a New Delhi district police officer acting as a Special Executive Magistrate (SEM), who ordered her to appear before the authority on Monday and execute the bond. The order surfaced on the same day she was released after being detained on Friday for participating in the march.

She filed the petition through advocate Abhik Chimni, and has questioned the legality of the notice, calling it prima facie ‘ambiguous, factually incorrect and violative of Articles 19 and 21 of the Indian Constitution,’ which safeguard fundamental rights.

Why did the cops issue the bond notice?

The police notice cited three grounds for requiring Bora to execute the bond. These included hailing slogans at Mandi House in Delhi on October 16, 2026, staging repeated protests near Jantar Mantar despite prohibitory orders imposed under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), and allegations that she incited people to take part in a demonstration at Connaught Place on the same day.

However, the petition filed by Bora contends that the notice failed to provide material or information establishing a likelihood of a breach of peace. It also allegedly did not specify the period, occasion or event in connection with which such a breach is apprehended.

Bora’s legal team has sought an urgent hearing at the Delhi HC earlier this week, despite the HC remaining on vacation until October 25.

Petition disputes allegation of instigating protest

The petition challenges what Bora’s lawyers term ‘an incorrect factual premise’ behind the police action. It disputes the allegation that she instigated people to participate in a stir at Central Park near Delhi’s Connaught Place on October 16, 2026.

As per the plea, Bora had demanded a peaceful gathering at Mandi House at 5 pm that day, an event, according to her lawyers, distinct from the demonstration cited in the notice issued by police. The petition further pointed out that she was detained at Mandi House.

Flag march culminated in arrest of CJP leaders

The developments transpired after the founder of the pressure group, Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), announced a flag march on Friday evening. Following the announcement, the party’s co-convenors, Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka, were detained by police for allegedly unfurling the Tricolour at Jantar Mantar the previous Tuesday. The duo was subsequently remanded to judicial custody for five days.

Bora kicked off her march alongside AISA activists at Mandi House at around 5:15 pm and was detained soon after. She was released at 6 am on Saturday after spending approximately 12 hours in custody.

Activists being detained during agitation led by Neha Bora

Post-release, Bora slammed the police action, questioning the legal basis for detaining protestors overnight and releasing them only the following morning or evening. She also raised concerns about the mistreatment of women detainees and called into question the authority under which such overnight detentions had been carried out.