- Government assured CJP protesters FIR withdrawal after minister resigned.
- Delhi Police awaits official orders to begin withdrawing cases.
- CJP warns renewed protests if government promises not met.
After a month-long protest by the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) at Jantar Mantar in the national capital, which culminated in the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Saturday, attention has now shifted to the legal cases filed against protesters.
Several cases were filed across India after the July 20 'Chalo Sansad' march, during which clashes broke out between protesters and police in Delhi. One of the CJP's key demands during its talks with the Centre was the withdrawal of all FIRs against protesters and an assurance that no further legal action would be taken, a demand the government agreed to.
However, despite the assurance, the Delhi Police has not yet received any official direction from the government to begin the withdrawal process.
According to an NDTV report citing Delhi Police sources, no order has been issued so far to withdraw the cases related to the protests over the alleged examination paper leak. Officials said that if such an order is received, the legal process will begin, but the final decision will lie with the courts.
The police also made it clear that cases filed by journalists alleging assault during the protests will not be withdrawn.
What Happened on July 20?
The July 20 'Chalo Sansad' protest turned violent after demonstrators attempted to march towards Parliament from Jantar Mantar. Security personnel used tear gas and batons to stop the march, leading to clashes and multiple detentions.
Police registered at least 20 FIRs, 14 cases relate to violence, one concerns the alleged unauthorised use of a drone, while the remaining complaints were filed by journalists who alleged they were assaulted during the protest.
Earlier, the Centre had assured student protesters that no legal action would be taken against them. A similar assurance was also extended to activist Sonam Wangchuk, after which he ended his hunger strike.
How Are Criminal Cases Withdrawn?
Once the government formally decides to withdraw the cases, the prosecution will inform the Lieutenant Governor (LG) that it no longer wishes to pursue them.
After obtaining the LG's approval, the Delhi Police will move the concerned courts seeking permission to withdraw the prosecutions.
However, the courts are not bound by the government's request. The judiciary will examine each case independently before deciding whether the withdrawal should be allowed.
CJP Issues Fresh Warning
Even as the legal process remains uncertain, the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) has warned that it will return to the streets if the government's assurances are not implemented.
In a post on X, CJP spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka tagged Union Ministers JP Nadda and Jitendra Singh, urging them to ensure the "immediate" withdrawal of all FIRs and the release of student protesters who remain in police custody.
The CJP ended its month-long protest on Saturday after the Centre accepted its demands and Dharmendra Pradhan stepped down as Education Minister.
Ranka, however, claimed that student protesters were still being detained or arrested in Assam, West Bengal, and Bihar, despite the government's commitment that no punitive action would be taken.
He demanded the immediate withdrawal of all cases against protesters and warned that the CJP would launch another nationwide agitation if the promises made to its delegation were not fulfilled.