The Delhi Police have registered an FIR after a woman alleged that her photograph was digitally morphed using artificial intelligence and face-swapping technology and displayed alongside Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s image on banners at a Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protest at Jantar Mantar.

The FIR was registered at the Parliament Street police station on the woman’s complaint against unknown persons. The statement forming part of the FIR names CJP functionaries Abhijit Dipke, Saurav Das, Ashutosh Ranka and Ratna Singh, alleging that they and their accomplices were responsible for the unauthorised use of her photograph. However, the four names do not appear in the “Accused” column of the FIR.

“I want to inform all my brothers and sisters that @DelhiPolice has finally registered the FIR after quite a long time. .Delhi Police, posters were waved right in front of you during the cockroach protest at Jantar Mantar—had you stopped those criminals back then, these editors wouldn’t have the audacity today. Now I hope that @DelhiPolice will catch these criminals as soon as possible,” she said on X.

According to the complaint, the woman had no association with the CJP or its demonstration and had not consented to the use of her photograph. She alleged that her personal photograph was taken and digitally manipulated using AI and face-swapping tools to create a fabricated and compromising image showing her alongside PM Modi.

She alleged that the image was subsequently printed on large banners and posters and publicly displayed, waved and paraded during the protest at Jantar Mantar. The complaint further alleges that derogatory slogans and vulgar, sexually suggestive comments were made in connection with the image in front of a gathering.

The woman also alleged that videos showing the banners and the slogans were recorded at the protest and later circulated on social media, particularly Instagram, with indecent captions and defamatory commentary.

In her complaint, she described the alleged use of her photograph as a “planned cybercrime” and an attempt at “public character assassination”, saying the image had been “weaponised” without her consent to sensationalise the demonstration. She alleged that the incident had caused her distress and fear and tarnished her reputation.

The complaint also contains allegations of intimidation and harassment, with the woman claiming that some men threatened her and behaved in a manner that outraged her modesty during the protest.

A police officer said the allegations were being investigated and that the matter was being examined from all angles.

The alleged incident took place during the CJP’s agitation at Jantar Mantar. The protest, which began in June, included demonstrations against alleged irregularities in examinations and demands, including the resignation of then Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. The CJP called off its demonstration on July 25 after announcing that the government had accepted its demands.

The Supreme Court on Tuesday (August 18, 2026) asked the Centre to respond to a plea for “standard questionnaire and special investigation procedure” to ensure time-bound investigation and speedy trial of paper leak cases.

A Bench headed by Justice P.S. Narasimha issued notice to the Union and State governments filed by petitioner-advocate Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay, who has also sought a direction for assessment of entire property of perpetrators and their family members.

Also read | Leaked papers and lost years in India’s recruitment system

Mr. Upadhyay said investigation should be held for offences under laws, including the Prevention of Corruption Act, Prevention of Money Laundering Act, benami and black money laws.

The petition even suggested the confiscation of the assets of the perpetrators and their family members.

Mr. Upadhyay, a BJP leader, said his petition was triggered by the NEET-UG paper leak on May 3, affecting lakhs of students.

“The continued failure of the authorities to prevent, investigate, and effectively prosecute those responsible has resulted in an ongoing violation of the fundamental rights guaranteed under the Constitution,” the petition said.

Even though the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act has been in force since June 2024, the petitioner alleged leaks have continued to rise, while the actual masterminds have continued to evade the scrutiny of the investigating agencies.

The petitioner noted that the lack of Deception Detection Tests (DDT) to locate the actual masterminds behind the paper leaks has also been one of the reasons for the non-enforcement of the 2024 Act.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has filed a charge sheet against 13 arrested accused persons in the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak case, the agency said on Tuesday (July 28, 2026). All of them are currently in judicial custody.

The charge sheet comes days after Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned from the post on July 25, in the wake of over a month-long agitation led by the Cockroach Janta Party.

The agency has invoked provisions related to criminal conspiracy, cheating, criminal breach of trust, destruction of evidence and other associated charges under the Prevention of Corruption Act and the Public Examination (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act.

It has cited 360 witnesses, 422 documents, and 43 material objects in the charge sheet.

The agency registered the case based on a complaint lodged by the Department of Higher Education on May 12, alleging irregularities in the conduct of the NEET-UG 2026 examination, which was held on May 3. The test was subsequently cancelled.

The CBI formed multiple teams with 72 officials and personnel, along with eight cyber forensic experts, to investigate the case. Searches were carried out at 92 locations in Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, and other States.

“These searches led to the seizure of incriminating material like digital and communication devices, documents etc. Forensic imaging and analysis of the incriminating material has been undertaken,” said the agency, adding that source of the leak was unearthed within weeks.

“The path from source of the leak to the beneficiary candidates was unearthed, leading to the identification of the chain. The first arrest in this case was made on May 13, 2026, it said.

Among the arrested are three National Testing Agency (NTA) subject experts in chemistry (P.V. Kulkarni), biology (Manisha Gurunath Mandhare), and physics (Manisha Sanjay Havaldar).

Another key accused is Shivaraj Motegaonkar, a professor and owner of RCC Coaching Institute in Maharashtra’s Latur.

Several alleged intermediaries who sourced and distributed the leaked questions were also held. Tejas Harshadkumar Shah, physics faculty and chief operating officer at APMA Coaching Institute, Pune, was also arrested.

“Digital forensic analysis reports, handwriting expert opinions and academic experts’ opinions regarding leaked questions have been obtained. These reports confirmed the role of the accused in the circulation of leaked questions before the date of examination,” said the CBI. Further investigation is under way.

The Maharashtra government has announced the withdrawal of First Information Reports (FIRs) registered against students and youth involved in recent protests. However, legal procedures, including the recording of statements and issuance of notices, continue as the investigation remains active. On July 28, some protesters received FIR notices via WhatsApp, leading to fresh allegations from student organisations.

A day after the State government directed the Home Department to withdraw cases against protesters, the Mumbai Police have stated that investigation procedures will continue until a formal order to halt the process is received. This development has created confusion among the student community and activists.

The decision to withdraw the cases came after a joint delegation of the All India Students’ Federation (AISF) met the Director General of Police and the Commissioner of Police. The delegations demanded an end to police harassment and the withdrawal of all FIRs lodged against peaceful demonstrators.

While the government has agreed to the demand, senior police officials have clarified that a probe cannot be stopped midway. According to the legal framework, the process of withdrawing FIRs related to political or social movements begins only after a charge sheet is filed. “Until the charge sheet is submitted, recording statements of accused and witnesses, conducting panchnamas, and other legal formalities are necessary. The cases then go to a scrutiny committee which recommends withdrawal,” an official said.

AISF Mumbai President Aamir Kazi stated that despite the announcement, students and youth are still receiving calls and notices, creating fear and confusion. He added that the Director General of Police has suggested that AISF submit a representation to the Mumbai Police Commissioner, urging them not to send new notices to protesters and to stop calling them to police stations.

On July 28, starting from 9:30 a.m., several students and youth who participated in the protests received FIR notices on WhatsApp, according to the Harsha Disha student organisation. In a statement, Harsha Disha said:

“Once again, the promises made by the Modi government have proven to be nothing more than false hopes. Since 9:30 a.m., students and youth who participated in the protests have been receiving FIR notices on WhatsApp. This is a clear tactic by the Mumbai Police and the BJP government to intimidate and spread fear among the youth, discouraging them from raising further questions or participating in future protests. Our appeal is that the student-youth movement must not rest until all FIRs filed against protesting students are withdrawn and all police officers who incited violence are held legally accountable for their actions. The CJP must stand by its initial demands and revive the protests until every FIR against the protesting students is withdrawn.” – Harsha Disha student organisations, who got FIR on WhatsApp on July 28.

The current government resolution on withdrawal of cases is valid until July 31. Officials noted that many investigations are ongoing and charge sheets may not be filed before that date, making an extension likely. “The sooner charge sheets are filed, the sooner the process of withdrawal under the government resolution can begin,” an officer added.

The AISF has welcomed the government’s decision but maintained that the struggle continues until every notice and legal proceeding against peaceful protesters is withdrawn. The federation has reiterated its demand for an immediate halt to police visits to the homes of protesters and an end to all forms of harassment.

The Bihar government on Monday (July 27, 2026) announced that it will withdraw all cases lodged against protesters over the NEET paper leak and release those jailed under various charges.

A statement to this effect was issued late in the evening by the State’s Home Department, which said that “no adverse legal action – punitive/retaliatory – shall be taken by the government against any individual participating in the protests before 6 p.m. on 26.07.2026”.

According to the police, altogether 694 people had been detained for enforcing the Bihar Bandh called on July 25 by pro-Left students’ unions and, after letting off 339 minors, the remaining 355 were booked under relevant laws, and were facing trial before the courts concerned.

Those who were arrested by the police in connection with the unrest that began in the State on July 22, when a procession taken out by activists of AISA managed to reach the vicinity of the Chief Minister’s residence, include CPI(ML) Liberation MLA Sandeep Saurav – who was picked up a day before the bandh, and former State minister Tej Pratap Yadav – who was taken into custody on Saturday (July 25, 2026) evening for trying to enforce the shutdown.

The statement made it clear that the “legal process for withdrawal of all FIRs, criminal complaints and show-cause notices” against individuals who took part in the protests “will be initiated immediately”.

“Furthermore, all the persons arrested/detained in connection with the cases… shall be released immediately”, and “no action, directly or indirectly will be taken against such individuals in future as well”, it said.

The announcement came barely a few hours after All India Students’ Association (AISA) president Neha Bora, who was among those spearheading the protests at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi, had called on Bihar DGP Vinay Kumar and submitted a memorandum seeking withdrawal of all the cases and release of those arrested.

She had also told reporters that the State could witness “protests on the scale of Jantar Mantar in Delhi” if the demands were not met, and voiced surprise that the Samrat Choudhary government in Bihar was allegedly acting in a high-handed manner “even as the Union government has assured there will be no coercive action”.

CPI(ML) Liberation general secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya, to whose party AISA is affiliated, expressed delight over the development.

Mr. Bhattacharya, who had taken part in the protests at Jantar Mantar, shared screenshots of the Bihar Home Department statement on X, saying “another retreat for the BJP, victory for the people”.

Left-wing student organisations had held demonstrations across Bihar on July 25, some of which turned violent, in support of the statewide bandh against the NEET paper leak issue and police action on protesting students.

Leader of Opposition in Bihar Assembly, Tejashwi Yadav, had also demanded the release of all protesters detained and arrested during the Bihar bandh.

LAmid nationwide uproar over paper leaks, Lucknow-based social activist Amitabh Thakur on Monday (July 27, 2026) wrote to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath requesting effective, impartial and time-bound prosecution in the long-pending paper leak cases relating to Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party (SBSP) MLA Bedi Ram and Nishad Party MLA Vipul Dubey, both allies of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Uttar Pradesh. 

“In the light of the nationwide concern over recent paper leak incidents and the declared zero-tolerance policy of both the Union and Uttar Pradesh Governments, older pending cases should also receive the same degree of seriousness and administrative attention. In the representation, I referred to the pending Railway Recruitment examination paper leak case of 2006, pending against Bedi Ram, Vipul Dubey and others for the last 20 years. Similarly, other criminal cases relating to examination paper leaks are also reported to be pending against Bedi Ram in different jurisdictions. The affidavits filed by both the MLAs to the Election Commission mention in detail the pending cases. I request the State government to ensure regular high-level review, effective representation by competent public prosecutors and continuous monitoring of these cases so that the judicial process proceeds in accordance with law without avoidable delay,” Mr. Thakur, a 1992-batch retired Indian Police Service (IPS) officer from the Uttar Pradesh cadre who leads Azad Adhikar Sena, an outfit, told The Hindu.

Mr. Ram, the SBSP MLA, is charged with six cases in Uttar Pradesh, two in Madhya Pradesh and one in Rajasthan. The charges against him include Sections 4/6 of the Rajasthan Public Examination (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 1992: Unauthorised possession or disclosure of question paper, Sections 2/3 of the UP-Gangster Act, 1986: Punishment for a public servant, who illegally helps or supports a gang member before or after commission of crime, Sections 4/5/10 of the Uttar Pradesh Public Examination (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 1998: Unauthorised possession, disclosure of question paper, leakage by person entrusted with examination work and penalties for both and Sections 3/9 of the Uttar Pradesh Public Examination (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 1998: Use of unfair means and resources.

Mr. Dubey, also faces charges related to Railway Examination paper leak. 

The Supreme Court on Monday (July 27, 2026) said it will see what the Nandan Nilekani-led high-powered task force formed by the government suggests on the online conduct of the NEET examination.

A Bench of Justices P.S. Narasimha and Alok Aradhe said some out-of-the-box suggestions are needed especially when transition is made from the physical mode to the online conduct of the NEET examination.

“We need some additional safeguards with respect to cyber security, database protection,” it said.

The Bench was hearing a plea filed by RJD MP Sudhakar Singh following the cancellation of the NEET-UG held on May 3 over alleged paper leak and the announcement of re-NEET

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Centre, informed the Bench that the Union Government has taken a very serious view and a high-level committee has been constituted.

He said an announcement was made by the Prime Minister himself and the high-level committee is headed by Nandan Nilekani, who is an expert in the field of technology.

Mr. Mehta said besides Mr. Nilekani, other members of the task force are former Chairman of ISRO S. Somanath, former Director of the Intelligence Bureau, Tapan Deka, director of IIT Chennai, V. Kamakoti, former Education Secretary Anita Karwal, and logistics expert Amrit Lal Meena.

The Bench said it is listing the plea filed by RJD MP Sudhakar Singh on next Monday, August 3.

On June 1, the top court refused to accept for urgent hearing the plea filed by Mr. Singh for conduct of the NEET-UG 2026 re-test on June 21 in computer-based test mode.

On May 12, the National Testing Agency (NTA) cancelled the NEET-UG held on May 3 for medical admissions amid allegations of paper leak.

The CBI is currently investigating the matter and the retest was held on June 21.

The primary reason behind Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation on Saturday (July 25, 2026) was not security concerns, but the erosion of the ruling party’s political capital caused by the burgeoning, organic crowds at Jantar Mantar, government sources told The Hindu.

The continuous sit-in by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), which started on June 13, was called off on Saturday (July 25, 2026) after the government accepted its demands, including withdrawal of criminal cases against protesters.

Taking cue from the July 20 march to Parliament, during which several unarmed protesters were beaten up by the police, the Union government had made elaborate security arrangements for the next few days to contain the crowd at Jantar Mantar, the protest site in the heart of Delhi.

An analysis of the social media chatter, which was found to have unsavoury remarks, particularly against the Prime Minister, after videos of police excesses on students and young people surfaced, also played a role in government conceding to the CJP’s demands, the foremost being Mr. Pradhan’s resignation.

Diverse crowd

“The police were underprepared on July 20 as the crowd, which reached the protest site following a call given by the CJP, was much beyond the initial estimate. However, there was little concern that the protests could lead to a Nepal- or Bangladesh-like situation, as the crowds were largely organic and socially diverse. Some unruly elements were mixed in the crowd, but the police had taken adequate measures post-July 20,” said a government source.

At least eight Internet shutdown orders were issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) between July 20 and July 25, blocking communication in a radius of 1.5 km around Jantar Mantar.

An Internet ban was imposed briefly on July 18, too, when activist Sonam Wangchuk, who had been on a hunger strike for more than 20 days, was forcibly removed from Jantar Mantar to Safdarjung Hospital by the police.

“The police were prepared to hold and manage the crowd at Jantar Mantar for the next few days, coinciding with the ongoing session of the Parliament. The gathering was largely peaceful, and the possibility of unruly elements wanting to take advantage of the situation is always there,” said another government source.

Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda said on Saturday (July 25, 2026) that the CJP delegation submitted a written proposal covering cases related to the agitation along with its five-point charter.

“The government assured the team that no action will be taken against the organisers and protesters, and no new cases will be registered in connection with the agitation. It also expressed condolences to the families of the students who lost their lives and assured them of the highest possible compensation as per the rules,” Mr. Nadda said, adding that discussions will continue with the delegation. This was Mr. Nadda’s third meeting with the delegation.

For a first information report (FIR) to be cancelled, the Delhi Police will have to withdraw the case and send a report to the court saying that it no longer wishes to pursue the case.

The Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) demanded that the Prime Minister make Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resign, withdraw all the cases foisted by the police against the youth and students protesting in New Delhi and tender an unconditional apology on the excesses committed against the protesters seeking action in the NEET question paper leakage issue.

Speaking at a protest organised by the BRS student wing, BRS Vidyarthi, at Indira Park here on Friday to express solidarity with students protesting in Delhi on the NEET question paper leakage issue, working president of BRS K.T. Rama Rao said Prime Minister Narendra Modi was playing with fire by trying to suppress the voice of Gen Z. He condemned the attempts to brand the protesters as terrorists, anti-nationals and anti-social elements.

Had the Centre been sincere, it would have already held dialogue with the protesters several times to resolve the issue instead of resorting to oppression and intimidation. There was no leader or the party behind the protesting youth and students, the BRS leader said, adding that voluntary support in the form of various means was an indication of the growing unrest among the youth against the Union Government.

Stating that the country was witnessing a dangerous trend in which those demanding accountability were being targeted instead of those responsible for the failures, Mr. Rama Rao said the voice of India’s youth could not be silenced through force or intimidation and asserted that every attempt to suppress democratic dissent would only strengthen such a movement.

Turning to the State government, he said Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy was helping divert public attention from the Centre’s failures and alleged that instead of leading a united fight against the Centre on an issue affecting students across the country, Mr. Reddy had chosen to target the BRS for political gains.

He accused Mr. Revanth Reddy of displaying double standards by avoiding any confrontation with the BJP while attempting to divert attention through attacks on the opposition.