More than 100 Harvard University alumni, students, faculty, and staff have issued a strong condemnation of police actions during peaceful protests in Delhi on October 10, calling for an immediate halt to constitutional rights violations and accountability for those responsible. The statement, released on October 12, expresses particular solidarity with Senior Advocate Shadan Farasat and policy professional Mehr Pasricha, both Harvard graduates who were among those detained during the demonstrations against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

"We strongly condemn police brutality, unlawful detention , and violations of constitutional rights of all peaceful protestors," says the statement, signed by 100 individuals from across Harvard Law School, Kennedy School, Business School, and other graduate programs. The signatories described the police action as an "unprecedented siege of Delhi by police and paramilitary forces" and decried arbitrary and unlawful conduct against citizens exercising their fundamental rights.

Detention of Senior Advocate Shadan Farasat

Shadan Farasat, a 2009 Harvard Law School alumnus and a Senior Advocate before the Supreme Court , was detained and manhandled by Delhi Police while rushing to prevent the illegal detention of a peaceful protestor. The statement emhasisizes that targeting lawyers attempting to provide legal aid strikes at the heart of the rule of law . "If lawyers are prevented from providing legal aid , then the entire system of law and order breaks down," the statement reads.

The incident has drawn particular concern because Farasat was performing a professional duty: ensuring that detained individuals had access to legal representation. Legal experts note that the right to consult a lawyer is a fundamental right under Article 22(1) of the Indian Constitution, and hindering that right by detaining the lawyer himself raises serious constitutional questions.

13-Hour Detention Without Paperwork

Mehr Pasricha, a 2025 alumna of the Harvard Kennedy School and Policy Head at Citizens for Justice and Peace (CJP), was not present at any protest site but was peacefully eating breakfast in the Laxmi Nagar Market, according to the statement. She was detained and held for 13 hours without being provided any paperwork or informed of the grounds for her detention.

The statement highlights that Pasricha's detention lacked any procedural due process, noting that she was given no documentation throughout the entire period of her custody. The lack of a detention order or grounds for arrest could violate Article 22(1) of the Constitution, which requires that no person shall be detained without being informed of the grounds of arrest.

The signatories expressed solidarity not only with Farasat and Pasricha but with all peaceful protestors, and commended those who provided assistance to individuals affected by what they described as unlawful detentions and accompanying violence.

Call for Accountability

The alumni group issued a dirct demand to the government and law enforcement authorities: "We call upon the government and all law enforcement authorities to immediately cease and desist from all violations of constitutional rights , respect rights to peaceful protest and access to legal assistance , and ensure that those responsible for abuses are held accountable in accordance with the rule of law ."

The statement reflets growing concern among the Indian diaspora and international legal circles about the handling of peaceful protests in India. The right to peaceful assembly is guaranteed under Article 19(1)(b) of the Constitution, and the curtailment of that right through mass detentions without proper procedures has drawn scrutiny from human rights organizations.

Observers note that the involvement of Harvard alumni—many of whom are legal professionals, scholars, and policy experts—lends weight to the condemnation and could amplify international pressure on the government to address allegations of police misconduct.

The signatories include prominent lawyers, academics, and public intellectuals, including Senior Advocate Avani Bansal (HLS 2016) and Dr Namita Wahi (HLS LLM 2005, SJD 2014). The list spans graduating classed from 1960 through 2028, demonstrating widespread concern across generations of Harvard affiliates.

As the situation stands, the Delhi Police have not issued a public response to the statement. The October 10 protests, organized against the Chief Election Commissioner, saw large crowds in central Delhi, but the police response resulted in hundreds of detentions, including individuals not directly participating in the protest.

The statement concludes with a reaffirmation of support for constitutional rights and a demand for strict adherence to the rule of law. The signatories have pledged to continue monitoring the situation and to amplify calls for justice for those affected by what they describe as state overreach.

The development comes amid broader debates in India about the balance between public order and civil liberties, with legal experts warning that the detention of lawyers and bystanders without due process sets a dangerous precedent for democratic governance.