Court extends TISS student’s police custody by another day

Mumbai: The city crime branch has secured one more day of police custody of 32-year-old TISS student Abhirup Ashim Paul alias Ronnie in connection with an alleged unauthorised programme held at the institute’s campus in Oct 2025. Police told the court that they needed his custody to investigate alleged Maoist literature found on his electronic devices, recover deleted digital data and examine his field activities and alleged links with the Progressive Students Forum and other individuals.

Paul was arrested by crime branch unit 6 on Saturday after a sessions court rejected his anticipatory bail plea. The case relates to a memorial gathering held at the TISS campus for former Delhi University professor G N Saibaba in Oct 2025. Several students entered the institute premises without prior permission, displayed Saibaba’s photograph, paid tribute to him and held a candle-lighting programme.

Police have alleged that slogans such as “Release Umar Khalid” and “Release Sharjeel Imam” were also raised during the event.

The case was initially registered at Trombay police station under various provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), along with Sections 37(d), 37(e) and 135 of the Maharashtra Police Act. It was subsequently transferred to the crime branch.