The Delhi High Court on Thursday (October 22, 2026) heard a plea filed by AISA President Neha Bora, challenging a notice requiring her to execute a peace bond of ₹10,000 before a Special Executive Magistrate (SEM), undertaking to maintain peace. The notice was issued after Bora took part in the recent ‘Lehera Do Tiranga’ protest march on October 16, 2026.
Bora has been at the forefront of recent protests led by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) against Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar on the issue of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise undertaken by the Election Commission. She was detained while on her way to take part in the protest march at the Central Park in Connaught Place. The bond was issued on October 17, 2026 under Sections 126 and 130 r/w Section 135(3) of the BNSS, requiring Bora to appear before the SEM and execute a personal bond of ₹10,000 along with a surety.
However, the courtroom saw an interesting exchange between Senior Advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan, appearing for Bora, and Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Chetan Sharma. During the 2.5-hour-long hearing, ASG Sharma offered strong legal and factual counters to Bora’s claims before the High Court.
Senior Advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan challenged the notice issued to Bora, claiming that it was issued without any material and without application of mind or preliminary inquiry by the concerned Magistrate. He argued that Bora did not violate Section 163 of the BNSS, as she was heading to Mandi House, where there was no prohibitory order in place. He further claimed that Neha Bora had no association with the CJP and she had given a separate call for protest at Mandi House.
ASG Chetan Sharma offered a point-by-point rebuttal to Bora’s claims before the High Court. The ASG rejected Bora’s claim that notice was issued to her without there being any material available to warrant the same. Sharma told the court that there was ample material available against Bora, including 12 instances of violations of law.
@DelhiPolice ASG Sharma : Everything is in full public view. A person who says that he’s in alice in Wonderland and knows nothing about it will say, "Oh, I’ve received this as a bolt from the blue."
— LawBeat (@LawBeatInd) October 22, 2026
ASG Sharma also rejected Bora’s claim that she has no associations with the CJP and the Opposition’s regime change attempts. Sharma pointed out before the High Court that Neha Bora shared a stage and held joint press conferences with CJP leaders and Prashant Bhushan, where open calls for a regime change were made.
“She says she has disassociated herself with other outfit and she is standalone is falsified as 163 was in force, there is a barricade which says 163, she was stopped, police being outnumbered, she ran…She ran towards CP,” Sharma said.
When Bora’s counsel said that there was nothing wrong with seeking a regime change, ASG Sharma replied, “A regime change in a democracy will happen by votes; it’s a government. Not by lumpen elements, congregating in the nerve of New Delhi”.
@DelhiPolice ASG Sharma : A regime change in a democracy will happen by votes; it’s a government. Not by lumpen elements, congregating in the nerve of New Delhi.
— LawBeat (@LawBeatInd) October 22, 2026
ASG Sharma concluded his argument by highlighting that ” Now, please see it in four parts. There is a definite source: SI, who reports; there is a general diary entry. Along with the general diary entry are past FIRs and past offences, and there is a situation emerging on the street…” Sharma stated in court.
@DelhiPolice ASG Sharma : There are 6 points. There is application of mind. There is double application of mind. A, there is material. Not sufficient, but overwhelming. B, that has been examined.
— LawBeat (@LawBeatInd) October 22, 2026
“…There is application of mind. There is double application of mind. A, there is material. Not sufficient, but overwhelming. B, that has been examined. C, the person who has brought the Kalandra is also examined. D, SEM applies his own mind,” the ASG added.
The High Court reserved the order on Bora’s plea till the next hearing of the plea tomorrow.
