Police Crackdown on NEET Leak Protests Spreads to Mumbai

Student-led protests by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) over NEET paper leaks and examination irregularities escalated into nationwide unrest in July 2026. The agitation began June 20 at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi, culminating in a July 20 march toward Parliament. This event resulted in violent clashes where police reported stone-pelting and injuries to six officers, while critics alleged the Delhi Police used excessive force, including nail-embedded lathis and tear gas.

In response to the volatility, the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi authorized the Delhi Police Commissioner to use preventive detention under the National Security Act. While authorities described this as a routine renewal, reports suggest it was intended to quell the CJP movement, which demands the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

The unrest spread to Mumbai, where solidarity protests at Shivaji Park and other sites led the Greater Mumbai Police to book approximately 400 people and register 13 FIRs. Prohibitory orders banning gatherings of five or more people were enacted from July 24 to August 6. During these events, model Rhiya Ahir blocked a police van to demand the release of detained students, and another incident saw detainees escape a vehicle in Chembur.

Political tensions have since intensified as Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and MNS president Raj Thackeray announced a joint protest march for July 26. The leaders accused the central government of crushing dissent and stated that the crisis has now expanded beyond the education ministry to involve the Prime Minister.