4 min readMumbaiUpdated: Aug 13, 2026 02:26 AM IST
Police detain protestors as they arrived at Shivaji Park to participate in a demonstration in support of the CJP-led protest in Delhi against paper leak in NEET examination.
(Express Photo by Sankhadeep Banerjee)
The Maharashtra government on Wednesday formally set in motion the process to withdraw cases registered against students, youngsters and others who protested in Mumbai and other areas over alleged NEET paper leak, but the police will continue to investigate the cases and file chargesheets.
The Government Resolution (GR) that brings them under the existing mechanism for withdrawing cases related to political and social agitations is the first formal step, but those named in the NEET FIRs will still have to wait.
The existing procedure requires the police to first investigate the cases and then file chargesheets. After the chargesheets are filed, the cases will go through government committees before the prosecution can approach a court for withdrawal of the FIRs.
The Home Department’s GR extends the deadline for withdrawing cases related to political and social protests to March 31, 2027. Cases in which chargesheets are filed by this date can be considered for withdrawal, subject to the other conditions set out in the GR issued in September 2022 .
The latest order also specifically includes protests held at various places in Maharashtra in support of the agitation at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar. This brings the cases registered against students, youngsters and others who took part in these protests under the government’s existing process for withdrawing protest-related cases.
What does this mean for those named in the FIRs?
The FIRs will not be cancelled immediately.
Police will first investigate the cases and file chargesheets. The cases will then be examined by a local committee which includes the zonal Deputy Commissioner of Police and a public prosecutor.
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If the committee recommends withdrawal, the prosecution will have to approach the court, seeking its permission to withdraw the FIRs. The final decision rests with the court.
The government has said the process will be completed in a time-bound manner. The deadline for filing chargesheets in cases that can be considered for withdrawal has also been extended from July 31, 2026, to March 31, 2027.
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The timing of the latest GR is significant as it has been issued much earlier than it usually comes. The previous GR, which extended the deadline to July 31, 2026, was issued on July 21, just nine days before the deadline.
This time, the new GR was issued within 10 days of the new period beginning on August 1 and extends it till March 31, 2027. A government source said the move was expedited because the FIRs related to the student protests had to be taken up on priority.
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The GR says cases can arise from marches, demonstrations and other protests organised by political parties and social organisations over public issues. These cases can then be considered for withdrawal under the prescribed procedure.
The move follows criticism over police notices and summons issued to students and young professionals who participated in the NEET protests. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had earlier directed the Home Department to begin the process of withdrawing the cases.
In Mumbai alone, nearly two dozen FIRs were registered, naming more than 1,000 people. Home Department sources had earlier told The Indian Express that the government would complete the withdrawal process in a time-bound manner and had instructed police to avoid coercive action against those named in the FIRs.
The withdrawal of the FIRs was one of the key demands of the protest organisers after the agitation, which was largely peaceful, was called off.
Mohamed Thaver is a highly specialized journalist with the Expertise and Authority required to report on complex law enforcement and legal issues. With a career dedicated to the crime beat for over a decade, his work provides readers with informed and trustworthy insights into Maharashtra's security and justice systems.
Experience & Authority
Core Focus: Has been exclusively covering the crime beat for over a decade, building deep, specialized knowledge in the field.
Geographical Authority: Currently focuses heavily on law enforcement and policy in Maharashtra, providing authoritative coverage of the state's security apparatus.
Key Beats:
Law Enforcement: Reports on the operations of the Maharashtra Police and the Mumbai Crime Branch.
Policy & Administration: Covers the Maharashtra Home Department, focusing on policy matters related to handling law and order and the evolution of the police force.
Judiciary: Has significant past experience covering the courts, giving him a comprehensive understanding of the entire criminal justice process from investigation to verdict.
Specialized Interest (Cyber & Forensics): Demonstrates Expertise in modern investigative techniques, with a keen focus on cyber crime and forensics, reporting on how these technologies assist complex crime investigations.
Content Focus: His reports revolve around police probes, the evolution of the force, and state policy, ensuring his content is highly relevant and detailed.
Credentials & Trustworthiness
Mohamed Thaver’s long-standing specialization in the crime beat—combined with his focus on technological aspects like cyber crime and his direct coverage of major institutions like the Mumbai Crime Branch and the Maharashtra Home Department—underscores his Trustworthiness and status as an expert source for detailed and reliable journalism on law and order.
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