Don't wish to pursue 13 FIRs linked to Jantar Mantar protest: Delhi Police to SC

The Delhi Police has told the Supreme Court it no longer wishes to pursue 13 FIRs linked to student protests held in the capital between July 20 and 25. The police has sought permission to file a fresh FIR against 2,873 individuals with serious criminal antecedents.Delhi Police had registered 13 FIRs in connection with violence during the party's July 20 'Chalo Sansad' march. (Credits: PTI)The Delhi Police has told the Supreme Court that it no longer wishes to pursue 13 FIRs registered in connection with the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protests held between July 20 and 25, 2026, according to an application accessed exclusively by India Today.The Delhi Police said its decision was based on a decision taken by the Central Government on July 25. It has consequently sought the quashing of the 13 FIRs relating to the incidents listed in its application.However, the police has sought the Supreme Court's permission to register a fresh and specific FIR against 2,873 individuals whom it has identified as having serious criminal antecedents.The Delhi Police said the proposed FIR and any consequential investigation would be carried out in accordance with the Supreme Court's clarification of the expression "criminal antecedents" in its August 3 order. The police has also submitted that no fresh FIR will be registered hereafter for the incidents that are the subject matter of its present application, apart from the specific FIR it is seeking permission to file against the 2,873 identified individuals.The development relates specifically to the CJP protests between July 20 and 25 and should not be confused with a separate plea by the Centre concerning FIRs registered against students who participated in the wider NEET examination paper leak protests.SC TO HEAR CENTRE'S PLEA ON NEET FIRs ON SEP 1 Separately, the Supreme Court has agreed to hear on Tuesday, September 1, a plea filed by the Centre seeking to quash FIRs registered against students who participated in the NEET examination paper leak protests.A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana agreed to list the matter after Solicitor General Tushar Mehta sought an urgent hearing. As the bench was about to rise after Monday's proceedings, Mehta said the Centre wanted to move an interlocutory application seeking quashing of FIRs related to the protests and said it was invoking Article 142 of the Constitution.The court observed that if the parties were reconciling, it had no objection and agreed to hear the matter on Tuesday.The Centre's plea comes against the backdrop of the Supreme Court's August 3 clarification that "criminal antecedents" in its earlier order on the release of student protesters referred only to those involved in grave and heinous offences. The court had said states could close or withdraw FIRs against other students in accordance with law.The clarification followed the Centre's submission that it was serious about not pursuing FIRs against students who participated in the NEET paper leak protests, including the July 20 Parliament march in Delhi, provided they did not have criminal antecedents.The July 20 march, organised by the CJP, witnessed clashes between protesters and security personnel, with police using lathis and tear gas to disperse those attempting to move towards Parliament.The protests began at Jantar Mantar on June 20 over alleged irregularities in the NEET examination and spread to several cities. The agitation was called off on July 25 after then Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned, and the government accepted the CJP's other demands.The Supreme Court had earlier constituted a high-powered inquiry committee headed by former apex court judge Justice R Subhash Reddy to examine issues and allegations, including claims of police excesses against students during the nationwide protests.- EndsWith inputs from agencyPublished By: Sonali VermaPublished On: Aug 31, 2026 17:59 IST