Delhi Drops 13 FIRs Against CJP Protesters, With a Catch

Delhi Police has decided to withdraw 13 First Information Reports filed over last week's Cockroach Janta Party march toward Parliament, officials told The Indian Express on Thursday. The relief stops short of people with previous criminal cases and those accused of violence during the demonstration.

The decision is the first concrete Delhi follow-through after days of waiting for written orders. On 26 July, police sources had told The New Indian Express and The Tribune that 15 FIRs from the New Delhi district still needed formal Ministry instructions before any withdrawal could begin, even after Union leaders publicly promised to quash protest cases.

What we can verify

• 13 FIRs to be withdrawn: Delhi Police will drop 13 FIRs tied to the CJP-led march to Parliament, officials said Thursday. — Indian Express
• Criminal-past and violence carve-out: Relief will not cover people with previous criminal cases or those accused of violence in the demonstration. — Indian Express
• July 20 clash backdrop: Thousands joined the CJP march on 20 July over examination paper leaks, including NEET-UG. Protesters clashed with security forces near Parliament; police used tear gas and batons and later filed cases alleging rioting, attacks on personnel, and damage to public property. — Indian Express
• Earlier Delhi pause: As of 26 July, Delhi Police still awaited written orders to withdraw protest FIRs after the Centre's public assurance to CJP; New Delhi district had 15 FIRs on record from the Sansad Chalo clashes and later demonstrations. — New Indian Express, The Tribune
• State pattern: Several state governments have moved in recent days to withdraw protester cases after CJP warned it would restart the stir. — Indian Express

What remains unverified

• Which 13, which 2 left: IE reports 13 withdrawals against the earlier 15-FIR New Delhi tally. Which two files stay open, and under which sections, is [unverified] in public reporting so far.
• Court stage: Whether police will file closure reports, seek prosecutor withdrawal under CrPC/BNSS, or wait for charge-sheets before dropping cases is [unverified].
• How "previous criminal cases" is applied: No published list defines the filter — pending FIRs, convicted cases, or police "history-sheeters" — so the carve-out's real reach is [unverified].
• Conspiracy and force probes: Earlier reporting said an overarching conspiracy inquiry and facial-recognition review would continue even if protest FIRs were dropped. Whether Thursday's decision freezes or leaves those tracks open is [unverified] in the IE brief.