The Delhi Police Crime Branch has registered a fresh FIR to investigate the alleged role of 2,873 people with criminal records who were identified at the July 20 ‘Chalo Sansad’ protest in central Delhi, including whether the violence during the march was planned.
The investigation follows a Supreme Court order on September 1 that quashed criminal cases against protesters involved in nationwide demonstrations linked to the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), while allowing the police to file a “fresh and specific” FIR against the 2,873 individuals with criminal antecedents identified at the Jantar Mantar protest site through facial recognition technology.
The protest had been organised by the CJP to seek the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the alleged NEET-UG question paper leak. Mr. Pradhan resigned on July 25, and the party’s month-long agitation was subsequently called off.
According to the Delhi police, more than 200 police personnel were injured during the July 20 march, while over 65 protesters also sustained injuries. The police had further claimed that more than 15 police vehicles were damaged during clashes and that protesters were involved in violence and stone-pelting.
The Crime Branch will verify whether the people identified through facial recognition technology were present at the protest and whether they participated in the alleged violence. Investigators will also reconstruct the sequence of events to determine whether the clashes were premeditated or whether individuals with criminal intent joined the march and became involved during the confrontation.
The probe will examine alleged attacks on police personnel, vandalism and damage to government and public property, including police vehicles. Investigators will also look into whether the identified individuals had links with student organisations and other groups involved in the agitation.
The police had cancelled 17 FIRs after the Supreme Court’s order. The fresh case is therefore intended to focus specifically on the 2,873 individuals permitted under the court’s directions, rather than revive the earlier cases. The investigation comes shortly before a proposed October 10 protest at Jantar Mantar, a designated protest site in central Delhi.
