Noida unrest: Rs 1 crore in ‘foreign funds’ transferred to Satyam’s account, say police

Noida: A day after slapping the National Security Act on Satyam Verma and Aakriti Choudhary for allegedly inciting violence during the April 13 labour unrest, police claimed that Verma received more than Rs 1 crore in his personal bank accounts from abroad in dollars, pounds and euros, and quickly transferred the money.

Verma’s lawyer, however, dismissed the claim as fabricated, saying police had failed to place any such evidence before the court and were now trying to build a case.

In a statement issued on Thursday, Noida police commissionerate said the allegation emerged during the probe into cases registered over the violence. Police claimed Verma transferred the funds to his other personal accounts at different times and said his links with “various organisations” were also under scrutiny.

“It is noteworthy that he is associated with various organisations, which are being thoroughly investigated. A thorough investigation and analysis is underway regarding various transactions made in these accounts by the accused,” the note read.

Verma and Aakriti, both linked by police to Mazdoor Bigul Dasta, were slapped with NSA provisions for allegedly provoking workers, triggering disorder and disturbing public order during the agitation, which began over stagnant wages and later saw arson, vandalism and stone-pelting in industrial areas.

Kabir, the Supreme Court lawyer appearing for Verma, rejected the police version outright. “The allegation is completely baseless. My client does not have Rs 1 crore in his bank account,” he said.

Kabir said Verma works as a freelance translator and has done commercial translation work for companies such as Google and Meta. “He receives payment for that work in his bank account and supports himself and his family from it. But there is no question of his monthly earnings coming anywhere close to Rs 1 crore.”

The claim, Kabir insisted, was especially suspect because police had not produced any supporting material in court. “If this was true, why has UP Police not presented any such evidence during hearings? Their earlier story about Satyam’s role in a criminal conspiracy has collapsed in court. Now, they are creating a new fictitious story of financial manipulation,” he added.

Kabir said the defence would move court against these “baseless allegations” and seek action against police officers responsible for “conducting a media trial”.

The sessions court, meanwhile, reserved its order on Verma’s bail plea. In Aakriti’s case, her lawyer Rajnish Yadav said the court reserved orders linked to FIR No. 164, while hearings in FIR Nos. 163 and 165 were adjourned after the prosecution sought time to produce papers.

The police’s action also drew protests in Delhi.

Activists under the banner of Campaign for the Release of Workers and Activists of Noida marched at Jantar Mantar against the NSA. Retired Delhi University professor Nandita Narain called the arrests illegal, while Naureen of Revolutionary Workers’ Party of India said labourers had been pushed to protest by low wages and rising living costs.

“Police are hounding a public intellectual and journalist like Satyam, who had never stepped foot in Noida, and Akriti, a meritorious student who always stood against injustice,” Narain said.