CM Fadnavis directs withdrawal of police cases linked to NEET protests

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has directed the Maharashtra Home Department to withdraw police cases against students involved in NEET protests. The move is aimed at protecting students' academic and professional futures while the State begins the legal process of withdrawing pending FIRs

Mumbai: In a major relief to students across Maharashtra, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday directed the Home Department to withdraw all police cases registered against students who participated in the NEET exam agitation.

Following the directive from the Chief Minister, police cases filed during the state-wide student demonstrations are now set to be officially dropped.

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CM Fadnavis issued formal instructions to the Home Department to initiate the process of withdrawing cases against student protesters. Students who faced legal action or FIRs while protesting over NEET examination irregularities will have their records cleared. Similar to measures taken in other states, Maharashtra has now moved to ensure that the academic and professional futures of young aspirants are not adversely affected by police cases stemming from democratic protests.

The CM’s directives are important as over 12 to 13 FIRs were filed by Mumbai Police across various stations including Worli, Dadar, Sion, Mahim, and Shivaji Park against hundreds of students and demonstrators for participating in unpermitted protests against NEET exam irregularities.

Over 900 individuals were named or booked under bailable charges (such as unlawful assembly and violation of prohibitory orders under the BNSS), with hundreds receiving notices via WhatsApp directing them to appear before investigating officers.

Opposition leaders, including NCP (SP) leader Jayant Patil and senior Maharashtra Congress leaders, have formally petitioned CM Fadnavis to immediately withdraw all police cases registered against student protesters. They urged the state government to issue official directives—similar to those recently issued in Bihar—to ensure student careers and academic futures are not harmed by criminal records resulting from democratic demonstrations.

Earlier, the Supreme Court ordered that no coercive action be taken against student protesters involved in NEET demonstrations across states, including Maharashtra and directed the immediate release of any detained minors.

The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) on Monday warned that it would resume its nationwide agitation if all pending police cases and FIRs against student protesters across states are not immediately dropped.