The Delhi Police told the Supreme Court (SC) on Monday that it no longer intends to pursue 13 First Information Reports (FIRs) registered in connection with the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP)-led protests which unfolded in the national capital between July 20 and 25, 2026.

As per an application, the police said they landed on the decision after going through a decision taken by the Union Government on July 25. It has accordingly sought to quash the 13 FIRs concerning incidents detailed in its application.

A still from the Jantar Mantar protests spearheaded by the CJP

However, the city’s police sought the top court’s permission to register a fresh, specific FIR against 2,873 people whom it has identified as having grave criminal antecedents.

Fresh FIR sought against people with criminal antecedents

The police said any proposed FIR and a subsequent probe would be conducted in accordance with the SC’s August 3 clarification on the expression of ‘criminal antecedents.’

It then assured the court that no fresh FIR would subsequently be registered pertaining to the incident covered by the present application, except for the specific case it is seeking permission to file against the 2,873 identified persons.

The latest development relates specifically to the CJP protests held at Jantar Mantar between July 20 and 25 this year. It is separate from the Union Government’s plea concerning FIRs against students who participated in the wider protests over the NEET UG 2026 paper leak.

SC to hear Union Govt’s NEET FIR plea tomorrow

Meanwhile, the apex court has agreed to hear the Centre’s plea seeking the quashing of FIRs registered against students who participated in the NEET UG 2026 paper leak protests. The case shall be heard on September 1, 2026. After Solicitor General Tushar Mehta sought an urgent hearing, a bench headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant, along with Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana agreed to list the matter.

As Monday’s proceedings were drawing to a close, the Solicitor General submitted before the court that the Centre wanted to move an interlocutory application seeking the quashing of FIRs linked to the protests. He said the government was invoking Article 142 of the Indian Constitution.

Responding to this, the SC bench said it had no objection if the parties were reaching a reconciliation and agreed to hear the matter on Tuesday.

SC sheds light on the meaning of ‘criminal antecedents’

The Centre’s plea comes after the Supreme Court’s August 3 clarification that the expression “criminal antecedents” in its earlier order concerning the release of student protesters referred only to those involved in grave and heinous offences.

The court had said states could close or withdraw FIRs against other students in accordance with law.

The clarification followed the Centre’s assurance that it was serious about not pursuing FIRs against students involved in the NEET paper leak protests, including the July 20 Parliament march in Delhi, provided they had no criminal antecedents.

The march, organised by the CJP, saw clashes between protesters and security personnel, following which police used lathis and tear gas to disperse those attempting to move towards Parliament.

The protests had begun at Jantar Mantar on June 20 over alleged irregularities in the NEET examination and subsequently spread to several cities. The agitation was called off on July 25 after then Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned and the government accepted the CJP’s other demands.

The Supreme Court had earlier constituted a high-powered inquiry committee headed by former apex court judge Justice R Subhash Reddy to examine various issues and allegations, including claims of police excesses against students during the nationwide protests.