The Allahabad High Court recently granted bail to Himanshu Thakur, a member of the workers’ union ‘Mazdoor Bigul Dasta’, in connection with two FIRs arising from the April 2026 industrial workers’ protest in Noida. Both FIRs, Case Crime Nos. 164 and 165 of 2026, were registered under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Sections 3 and 4 of the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act. The FIRs concerned allegations of mob violence, stone-pelting, and damage to public and company property during the protest in Gautam Buddha Nagar.
In FIR No. 164, Justice Krishan Pahal granted bail on August 7, 2026. The Bench noted that a similarly placed co-accused, Ravi Kumar Rathore, had already been granted bail by a coordinate Bench of the High Court on June 24, 2026. The Court also took into account that the criminal history attributed to Thakur had been adequately explained. Thakur was directed to be released on bail upon furnishing a personal bond and two sureties, subject to verification of the sureties. He was further directed not to tamper with evidence or intimidate witnesses and to appear before the trial court as required.
In FIR No. 165, Justice Avnish Saxena granted bail on August 20, 2026. Although the State opposed the bail application, alleging that Thakur had played an instrumental role in spreading violence through social media and had used the internet to disseminate hatred, the Bench granted bail. The Court observed that no specific role had been attributed to Thakur in the FIR or in the statements recorded during investigation. The prosecution had not shown that he was seen breaking gates, pelting stones, assaulting employees or police personnel, setting vehicles on fire, or damaging company property. Thakur was directed to be released on bail on furnishing a personal bond and two sureties. He was also directed to cooperate with the judicial process for the fair and speedy disposal of the case.
The FIRs stemmed from an industrial dispute concerning workers’ demands, including revision of minimum wages, payment of overtime wages, and implementation of an eight-hour workday. The agitation reportedly began on April 9, 2026, and spread to several industrial establishments in Phase-II, Gautam Buddha Nagar. According to the FIRs, on April 13, 2026, around 1,500 to 2,000 workers assembled at the premises of Samvardhan Motherson International Limited in Sector 84, Gautam Buddha Nagar. The prosecution alleged that the gathering turned violent, resulting in damage to company property, assault on employees, security personnel, and police personnel, stone-pelting, and the damaging and burning of vehicles.
In FIR No. 164, Thakur’s counsel challenged the prosecution’s reliance on recoveries from his residence, which allegedly included electronic devices, books, notebooks, labour-union literature, newspapers, pamphlets, banners, and other material. It was argued that no weapon, explosive, inflammable substance, or incriminating digital communication had been recovered. Counsel further contended that neither the FIR nor the investigation statements disclosed that Thakur was seen committing any specific act of violence or property damage. The prosecution had sought to raise suspicion based on Thakur’s association with organisations such as Mazdoor Bigul, Disha Students’ Organisation, and Naujavan Bharat Sabha, and his participation in forums like Bigul Mazdoor Dasta. However, Counsel argued that mere association with or contribution to lawful organisations could not, by itself, constitute evidence of involvement in the alleged offences.
Advocate Qamar Ali Jafri appeared for the applicant. The case is titled Himanshu Thakur vs. State of U.P. 2026.