Advocate alleges Mumbai Police kept her under 'house arrest' before student protest

Advocate Samya Korde is escorted by police personnel after she was detained on Monday

Advocate Samya Korde, 26, has alleged that Mumbai Police kept her under "house arrest" for several hours before detaining her on Monday to stop her from joining a student protest over alleged NEET and TET paper leaks and education reforms. She also claimed dozens of students across Mumbai were served police notices or informed that Zero FIRs had been registered in connection with the demonstration. Senior police officials declined to comment on the allegations.

Cops arrived early morning

Korde alleged that police personnel arrived outside her residence in Sion around 9 am and asked her to accompany them to Wadala Truck Terminal (WTT) police station. "I refused because I was unwell. I told them I could not simply leave with them like that," she said. According to Korde, officers remained outside her apartment till 2.30 pm to 3 pm. She described this action as informal ‘house arrest'.

Adv Samya Korde, who alleges police confined her to her home for several hours. Pics/Special Arrangement

Delhi protest inspired Mumbai demonstration

Korde said she had travelled to Delhi earlier this month with Peasants and Workers Party of India Spokesperson Chitraleka Patil to express solidarity with climate activist Sonam Wangchuk and protesting students. After returning to Mumbai, student groups decided to organise Monday's protest, condemning the police action in Delhi and highlighting alleged examination irregularities and broader concerns over education policy.

‘This isn't the first time'

Korde said Monday's incident marked the third time she had been preventively detained in connection with a protest.
She alleged she was similarly detained before a slum dwellers' march in September 2023 and again during another protest in Kherwadi later that year. She believes the repeated detentions reflect a pattern of preventive policing against activists.

Detained at police station

Korde said she left home as protesters gathered at Chaitya Bhoomi but was stopped by police, asked to sign another notice and taken to WTT police station around 3.30 pm. She said she was released around 9 pm. "My concern is not about how I was treated inside the police station, but about being prevented from attending a peaceful demonstration."

Notice warning against attending protest

"They told me not to go to the protest and that a case would be filed if I did. I kept asking them why they were preventing me from leaving my own house," she alleged.

Students also received notices, she claims

Korde alleged that several students across Mumbai were similarly targeted.

She claimed many students who attended the protest received police notices, while others were informed that Zero FIRs had been registered against them. According to her, a team of volunteer advocates has been formed to provide legal assistance.

"We have been receiving calls from students since morning. Based on what we know, nearly 100 to 150 notices may have been issued." mid-day could not independently verify the number of notices or the Zero FIRs.

Why students were protesting

>> Action in alleged NEET and TET paper leak cases
>> Greater transparency in public examinations
>> Stronger public investment in education
>> Expansion of government educational institutions
>> Opposition to privatisation of education
>> Better access to education for marginalised students
>> Protection of students' mental health

‘Father detained'

Korde also alleged that her father, Raju Korde, Maharashtra State Secretary of the Peasants and Workers Party of India (PWPI), was detained while heading towards the protest after learning she had been taken into custody. According to her, he was intercepted near Dadar, taken to Shivaji Park police station and later shifted to WTT Police Station. She further claimed that a criminal case has since been registered against him.

She said the two were kept separately throughout their detention. Korde also credited her mother, Kunda Korde, a homemaker, for confronting police officers outside their home. "My mother has witnessed police action against activists because of my father's work," Korde said.

Timeline

9 am: Police arrive outside Korde's residence in Pratiksha Nagar.
Around 10 am: She says police serve her a notice warning her not to attend the protest.
3.30 pm: Taken to Wadala Truck Terminal Police Station.
Around 9 pm: Released.