Delhi Police awaits Centre’s directive on withdrawal of FIRs against NEET protesters

Delhi Police said it will act on withdrawing FIRs against NEET paper leak protesters only after receiving official directions from the Centre, while clarifying that the investigation into the alleged conspiracy behind the July 20 violence will continue independently

New Delhi: Following the Centre’s assurance that cases against the NEET paper leak protesters would be withdrawn, Delhi Police sources on Sunday said it would take further action only after receiving official communication and guidelines from the competent authority.

The source said 15 FIRs have been registered so far at different police stations in the New Delhi district in connection with the July 20 violence and other incidents linked to the ongoing protests.

---

On Saturday, at a joint press conference with Cockroach Janata Party spokespersons Saurav Das and Abhiseh Ranka, Union minister JP Nadda had said that the government agreed to withdraw FIRs registered against protesters and would provide a written assurance on the agreed demands by Tuesday.

“We will act according to the guidelines and official communication after receiving from the competent authority,” the source said. The source, however, said the announcement regarding withdrawal of the cases would not affect the ongoing investigation into the alleged larger conspiracy behind the clashes.

Police are examining CCTV footage, digital evidence, mobile phone records, and statements of witnesses to reconstruct the sequence of events and identify those suspected of planning, instigating or participating in the violence. Police have also identified over 2,500 people with criminal backgrounds and bad characters using their facial recognition system (FRS).

More than 200 police personnel and 70 protesters sustained injuries during the July 20 clashes, while several government vehicles and other public property were damaged, they said. The source said the conspiracy probe would continue irrespective of the proposed withdrawal of the FIRs and all evidence collected during the investigation would be examined as part of the ongoing inquiry.