Archive · 18 Aug 2026
Delhi Police Deny Excessive Force During CJP's NEET Protest March
In July, a big group of people in Delhi marched to Parliament to protest because exam papers had been leaked.
The group is called CJP.
At first, the protest was peaceful.
Then some people pushed past the barriers.
The police used force to control the crowd.
The police say they used only the amount of force that was needed.
More than 30,000 people joined the protest, and about 5,000 police officers were there.
Over 240 police officers and about 200 protesters got hurt.
Some people say the police were too rough and want the court to investigate.
The police say they did nothing wrong.
Delhi Police denied allegations of excessive force during the July 20 'Sansad Chalo' march against the NEET paper leak.
In a Supreme Court affidavit, police said more than 30,000 protesters gathered across a roughly 3-kilometre stretch, with nearly 5,000 personnel deployed.
Police said the protest began peacefully but turned violent after protesters breached barricades, making 'graded,' proportionate force necessary.
More than 240 police personnel and around 200 protesters were injured in the clashes.
The affidavit responds to four petitions seeking a Supreme Court-monitored investigation, with police also claiming anti-social elements infiltrated the demonstration.
- Who
- Delhi Police, CJP-led protesters, and four petitioners before the Supreme Court of India
- What
- Delhi Police denied excessive-force allegations and defended their 'graded' response to the NEET paper-leak protest march
- When
- The protest march took place on July 20; the police affidavit was submitted on a Tuesday at the time of reporting
- Where
- New Delhi, from the Jantar Mantar assembly area along a roughly 3-kilometre stretch toward Parliament
- Why
- Police said the force was warranted after protesters breached barricades amid a huge crowd, in response to petitions alleging police excesses during the march against the NEET paper leak
Petitioners (Allegations of Police Excess)
Delhi Police
Use of force
Petitioners (Allegations of Police Excess)
Petitioners allege police used excessive force during the protest and seek a Supreme Court-monitored investigation.
Delhi Police
Police say the force used was 'graded' and proportionate to the crowd size and the situation on the ground.
Outbreak of violence
Petitioners (Allegations of Police Excess)
Petitions point to alleged police excesses during the demonstration as the basis for an inquiry.
Delhi Police
Police say the protest began peacefully and turned violent only after protesters breached barricades, with anti-social elements and history-sheeters having infiltrated the crowd.
Need for an independent investigation
Petitioners (Allegations of Police Excess)
Petitioners want an independent Supreme Court-monitored probe into police conduct during the march.
Delhi Police
Police maintain their actions were necessary and appropriate to control the huge gathering and keep the protest away from neighboring areas.
- Event
- 'Sansad Chalo' march against the NEET paper leak
- Protest date
- July 20
- Location
- Jantar Mantar area, New Delhi; roughly 3-kilometre stretch
- Organizing group
- CJP
- Crowd size
- More than 30,000 protesters
- Police deployed
- Nearly 5,000 personnel
- Police injured
- More than 240
- Protesters injured
- Around 200
- Legal context
- Four petitions seeking a Supreme Court-monitored investigation into alleged police excesses
