New Delhi: Former IAS officer Kannan Gopinathan was detained by the Uttar Pradesh police on Saturday, when he was on his way to an anti-Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) event at the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU).

Gopinathan tweeted at around 8.30 pm that he was released on producing personal bond, and was ‘escorted’ until he was able to catch a train out of Uttar Pradesh.

Released on personal bond. Now being escorted out till the border of Independent Banana Republic of Uttar Pradesh. https://t.co/AVIG1lfKj1 — Kannan Gopinathan (@naukarshah) January 4, 2020



Earlier in the day, in a series of tweets, Gopinathan said he was detained at the UP border, later sharing a photo of the order which he said was used to detain him.

This is the order shared by the CO. pic.twitter.com/7k90BNG441 — Kannan Gopinathan (@naukarshah) January 4, 2020

The former buraucrat tweeted more updates, saying he was being taken to a hotel and not a police station, before adding “The order shared is for Aligarh district. But I am being detained in Agra.” He then said he was being taken to “another place”, after which there were no updates on his Twitter account.

Being taken to another place from here. Guest house it seems — Kannan Gopinathan (@naukarshah) January 4, 2020

According to the Indian Express, a notification issued by the Aligarh district magistrate directed the senior superintendent of police (SSP) to ensure that Gopinathan is not allowed to enter the district. “Citing previous incidents, the order stated that the law and order situation was compromised during similar visits by Swaraj India leader Yogendra Yadav and Dr Kafeel Khan,” the newspaper reported.

Gopinathan had quit the IAS protesting the restrictions imposed in Kashmir after the dilution of Article 370. He has since opposed the CAA and also the proposed nationwide National Register of Citizens (NRC).

Also Read: ‘This is Not the 1970s’: IAS Officer Quits in Anguish Over Kashmir ‘Emergency’

Gopinathan has been travelling to different parts of the country, speaking at protests against the CAA. According to reports, he was invited as a panellist to address a gathering at AMU on Saturday, along with others like Kavitha Krishnan and Fahad Ahmed, the former general secretary of TISS. A report by the Indian Express said that Ahmed was also detained by the police while he was on his way to the university.

Kavitha Krishnan expressed concern that the police might have taken his phone away.

Hey @agrapolice @UPPolice #WhereIsKannan? How come he doesn’t have his phone on him? If you’ve arrested him why the secrecy? Why isn’t his family informed? Are you holding him, an IAS officer in illegal custody? @IASassociation pl join us in asking #WhereIsKannan https://t.co/x99G9oMpHE — Kavita Krishnan (@kavita_krishnan) January 4, 2020

The anti-CAA protests intensified across the country after reports of alleged police brutality in AMU and Jamia Millia Islamia. UP police have also been accused of using excessive and illegitimate force on protestors, often targeting Muslims.

Note: This story has been updated to reflect the fact that Gopinathan has been released.