Protesters protect security personnel during a scuffle at a joint protest rally by the Students Federation of India (SFI) along with the Cockroach Janata Party demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the NEET paper leak issue, in Kolkata, West Bengal, Friday, July 24, 2026.
| Photo Credit: PTI
While the FIR filed by the police against the protesters was withdrawn, the cases of assault on journalists will contiunue. A city court granted bail to all 16 accused who are in custody after the FIR was withdrawn.
West Bengal government on Tuesday (July 28, 2026) withdrew an FIR which it had filed suo motu against the protesters for allegedly resorting to violence during a procession on July 24 in the city’s Esplanade area. The rally was called in support of students protesting at Jantar Mantar in Delhi demanding the resignation of Dhamendra Pradhan as Union Education Minister.
The development came a day after the Cockroach Janata Party said that the Union government should not breach the agreement to withdraw all police cases against protesters. Similar FIRs registered against protesters in Assam and Bihar were withdrawn on Monday.
A total of 16 people were arrested for their alleged role in the violence by Kolkata Police. Seven FIRs were registered in connection with the violence which included a suo motu FIR by the Kolkata Police and six other FIRs registered on the basis of complaints made by journalists who were assaulted by the mob.
After police dropped the charges against the protesters, the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday granted a bail to all the accused at a bond of Rs 500. The Kolkata Police had arrested the accused from different places in and around the city and the accused were to remain in judicial custody till July 3
West Bengal Home and Hill Affairs Department issued a formal order withdrawing the suo motu case under which 16 people were arrested.
It clarified that no coercive measures shall be taken against the students participating in the protests relating to the alleged irregularities in the NEET (UG) Examination.
However, it also said , “The above protection shall not extend to persons having criminal antecedents, as mandated in the order of the Hon’ble Court mentioned abo
Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari had earlier claimed that the accused will be booked under the newly passed West Bengal Public Safety and Control of Anti-Social Activities Act, 2026, also commonly called Goonda Act. The law provisions for preventive detention of up to 12 months while the accused cannot even approach for legal help.
Several journalists suffered injuries while covering the July 24 rally. Videos surfaced from the rally revealed that journalists were heckled by the mob. On Monday, journalists also held a protest demanding their safety and also submitted a memorandum to Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari.
Published – July 29, 2026 07:59 am IST
