Archive · 30 Jul 2026
Delhi Drops New FIRs for Protesters Without Criminal Records
Delhi is a big city in India.
Some young people protested there on July 20 to ask for a minister to step down.
The Delhi government said it will not start new legal cases against those protesters if they have no criminal history.
But it will keep the 13 cases that were already started.
The Supreme Court said it is okay to investigate but not to arrest students.
The police found 2,873 people who had past crimes.
A protest leader, Sonam Wangchuk, asked the national government to keep its promise not to take legal action.
He said if the promise is broken, protests could start again.
The government said it will treat the matter as closed and not take more action.
Delhi government announced it will not file new FIRs against youth protesters without criminal records, but will keep existing cases.
Delhi Police had registered 13 FIRs related to the July 20 protests.
Supreme Court directed that no coercive action be taken against students and that minors be released if they have no criminal antecedents.
Delhi Police identified 2,873 individuals with prior criminal records through surveillance footage.
Activist Sonam Wangchuk urged the Union government to honor its no‑FIR promise and warned of renewed protests if cases remain.
- Who
- Delhi government, Delhi Police, Supreme Court, activists Sonam Wangchuk and Saurav Das
- What
- Decision to drop new FIRs against protesters without criminal records while continuing existing cases
- When
- Thursday (announcement) and July 20 protests
- Where
- Delhi, India
- Why
- To comply with Supreme Court directive and maintain trust with youth protesters
- Government action
- No new FIRs for protesters without criminal records
- Existing FIRs
- 13
- Supreme Court directive
- No coercive action against students
- Individuals with criminal records identified
- 2,873
- Protest date
- July 20, 2024