Aditya Anand, an NIT Jamshedpur alumnus and former software engineer, has been arrested in connection with the violent workers' protests that rocked Noida. Police allege Anand is the primary orchestrator behind the unrest, having been apprehended at Tiruchirappalli Railway Station in Tamil Nadu while reportedly attempting to flee.
The arrest was made by the Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF) and Gautam Buddh Nagar Police at approximately 1:40 AM on April 18. Anand had been absconding since the incident and carried a reward of Rs 1 lakh for his capture. Authorities had previously issued a non-bailable warrant against him on April 16.
Allegations of Orchestrating Violence
According to police officials, Anand is accused of being the mastermind who systematically planned and executed the transformation of labor protests into violent incidents. He allegedly engaged in provocative activities and incited workers during sit-ins and demonstrations across the Gautam Buddh Nagar district.
Investigators had deployed multiple teams across several states to trace Anand, following initial intelligence suggesting he might have fled to Delhi before his eventual capture in Tamil Nadu.
Aditya Anand's Background and Affiliations
Originally from Hazaribagh, Aditya Anand holds a BTech degree from NIT Jamshedpur. He was recruited as a software engineer through campus placement at a private firm in Noida. After a period working in Gurgaon, he reportedly returned to Noida in June 2025 and was residing in Sector 37 at the time of the protests.
Police reports indicate Anand's involvement with various organizations. He first connected with the labor rights group Mazdoor Bigul via Facebook in 2022, subsequently documenting factory workers' conditions. In 2023, he met co-accused Rupesh Roy during the Bhagat Singh Jan Adhikar Yatra. Roy, along with Manisha Chauhan, was arrested on April 11 as alleged conspirators.
Anand is said to have deepened his association with Mazdoor Bigul's leadership, a group led by Anubhav Sinha, and participated in protests nationwide. Authorities have also linked him to the Disha Student Organisation, the Revolutionary Workers' Party of India, and the Naujavan Bharat Sabha.
Confession and Ongoing Investigation
India Today reported that Aditya Anand has confessed to his role in the conspiracy behind the violence during the labor protest. Police stated he allegedly organized provocative actions and executed events in a "systematic and pre-planned manner."
The investigation is ongoing, with authorities continuing to question Anand to identify other individuals involved and to ascertain any broader networks or external connections to the case. Further actions are being pursued based on electronic surveillance and technical evidence, as efforts intensify to locate remaining suspects.