Athar is a 25-year-old who actively participated in the anti CAA protests held at the Chand Bagh protest site in New Delhi in 2020. He was initially drawn towards the movement after he was disturbed by the horrific incidents at Jamia Millia Islamia University where peaceful protesters were beaten up. He began to take part in the protests at Jamia every Sunday in 2020 and got more and more involved in understanding the ramifications of the Citizenship Amendment Act, 2019. He was pursuing his distance education (BBA) at Sikkim Manipal University (SMU) when he was arrested in July 2020.
IPC sections of 124A (sedition) 153A (promoting enmity between religious groups), 186 (Obstructing public servant in discharge of public functions), 201 (causing disappearance of evidence), 212 / 295 (insulting someone's religion) / 302 (punishment for murder), 307 (attempt to murder), 353 (Assault or criminal force to deter public servant), 395 (dacoity), 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention). Sections 13 (punishment for unlawful activities), 16 (punishment for terrorist act), 17 (punishment for raising funds for terrorist act), and 18 (punishment for conspiracy) of UAPA.