Uttarakhand cop hands badge to CJP on stage; police say he was already under suspension

Lead

A dramatic scene unfolded at New Delhi's Jantar Mantar on Friday, 24 July 2026, when an Uttarakhand police constable took the stage during the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protest, removed his shoulder badge, and handed it to CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke while declaring his resignation over examination paper leaks. Uttarakhand Police quickly issued a statement confirming the officer was already under suspension and facing dismissal proceedings prior to his appearance.

What we can verify

• Stage action: Constable Sher Singh (also referred to as Shera Singh in regional coverage) appeared on the main Jantar Mantar protest stage. Citing ongoing recruitment paper leaks in Uttarakhand dating back to 2021, Singh unclipped his police badge and handed it to Abhijeet Dipke, stating, "Revolution comes from ideas and ideas never die," as reported by The Indian Express and filmed in video reports by Khabargaon.
• Police response & official status: Inspector General Nivedita Kukreti (Uttarakhand Police) stated that Constable Sher Singh, posted in Pithoragarh, had been on unauthorized absence since 28 June 2026 and was formally placed under suspension on 20 July after failing to respond to an explanation notice.
• Prior legal proceedings: Senior police officials confirmed that Singh was arrested by the state Special Task Force (STF) in September 2025 under an August 2025 Haridwar FIR involving cheating, forgery, and criminal conspiracy allegations related to land disputes. He was released on bail after several months in prison, and formal departmental dismissal proceedings were already underway before the Jantar Mantar event.

What remains unverified

• Legal validity of the resignation: Submitting a badge to a non-official on a protest stage carries no administrative effect under service rules; formal resignation requires submission through departmental channels. Mark any public claim that he has legally resigned from service as [unverified].
• Internal motive claims: Beyond his stage statements regarding paper leaks, whether the public act was influenced by his pending dismissal proceedings remains a matter of police assertion and departmental record.

Context

The incident occurs as demonstrations at Jantar Mantar over competitive exam paper leaks enter their second week. While student groups and CJP leaders continue sit-in agitations, law enforcement agencies across Northern states have stepped up monitoring of uniformed personnel attending or addressing non-sanctioned public rallies.