Mumbai NEET Protests Spread to Shivaji Park as Viral Stand-off Sparks Political Support

Demonstrations over alleged NEET paper leaks expanded across Mumbai on Thursday, with stand-offs reported at Shivaji Park in Dadar, alongside protests in Chembur, Juhu, and Powai echoing the ongoing CJP-led agitation at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi.

What we can verify

• Shivaji Park Demonstration: Protesters gathered in Dadar demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. Police deployed vans to detain participants.
• Police Van Blockade: Video verified by The Indian Express showed demonstrator Rhiya Ahir standing directly in front of a Mumbai Police vehicle carrying detained protesters at Shivaji Park to block its path.
• CJP Amplification: The official Cockroach Janta Party X account shared footage of the Dadar stand-off, connecting the Mumbai demonstrations to the central protest campaign.
• Additional Incidents: At a separate location, detained protesters exited a moving police van after a passer-by opened the rear door. Separately, video recorded inside a police vehicle captured an officer threatening detained protesters with fabricated narcotics charges if they returned.
• Political Reactions: Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray and MNS chief Raj Thackeray announced a joint march in Mumbai scheduled for July 26 in support of student demands.

What remains unverified

• Police Internal Inquiry: Mumbai Police has not officially commented on or confirmed administrative action regarding the recorded officer threat to plant narcotics on detained protesters.