Supreme Court to Review Pellet Gun Injuries from NEET Protest: What’s Next?

The Supreme Court has agreed to hear petitions regarding pellet gun injuries sustained during protests against NEET paper leaks led by the Cockroach Janata Party. The case involves claims from individuals who allege they were injured without provocation during the protests. Additionally, the court will address allegations of illegal detention and intimidation faced by a volunteer who provided food during the demonstrations. As the protests escalated, they called for the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, culminating in his resignation and promises of compensation for affected families. Stay tuned for updates on this significant legal matter.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jul 28, 2026, 19:21 IST

Supreme Court Takes Up NEET Protest Injuries Case

New Delhi: On Tuesday, the Supreme Court agreed to hear petitions from a former IPS officer and two individuals who reported injuries from pellet guns during a protest led by the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) concerning NEET paper leaks.

The Chief Justice of India, Surya Kant, indicated that the court would address this issue alongside other related petitions stemming from the protests that occurred on August 3.

The petitioners, Yashovardhan Azad, Prashant Kumar, and Sheikh Irshad Mansoori, represented by advocate Vrinda Grover, are seeking a ban on the use of metallic kinetic projectile pellets fired from pump-action rifles or projectile action guns (PAG) for crowd control by law enforcement.

Kumar, a 25-year-old artist, stated he was peacefully protesting during the Sansad Chalo march on July 20 when he was struck by pellets fired by the Rapid Action Force (RAF) without any provocation.

Similarly, Mansoori, aged 26, was at Connaught Place after handling passport and visa matters when he also suffered pellet injuries from RAF fire on the same day.

The petition highlights that during the 'Sansad Chalo' march organized by CJP to protest against the ongoing paper leak crisis affecting higher education credibility in India, the Delhi Police enlisted the help of the CRPF's RAF for crowd management.

Witnesses reported that around 4-4:30 PM on that day, police and RAF personnel continuously fired tear gas and used batons to push protesters back towards Connaught Place's Inner Circle.

Additionally, the court will consider a plea from Junaid Malik, a volunteer who provided food during the protests, alleging illegal detention and intimidation against him and his family.

Malik claims he was detained by Delhi Police around midnight on July 24 after leaving Ram Manohar Lohia (RML) Hospital, where he received an anti-rabies shot.

He alleges he was held in a police vehicle for five to six hours, during which he faced threats and intimidation. His phone was searched without consent, and officers interrogated him about the funding for food supplies to protesters.

Advocate Prashant Bhushan, representing Malik, stated that his client was blindfolded and taken to Mussoorie.

The CJP-led march on July 20 resulted in clashes between protesters and security forces, who employed batons and tear gas to disperse crowds attempting to approach Parliament. The protests subsequently spread to various states.

Protesters were demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the NEET paper leak scandal.

The protests concluded on Saturday with Pradhan's resignation and the government's agreement to compensate families of those who lost their lives and to refrain from filing FIRs against the protesters.