Bihar Government Withdraws Cases Against NEET Protesters, Orders Release of All Detainees
The Bihar government on Monday announced it will withdraw all cases filed against protesters in connection with the NEET paper leak agitation and release those currently in jail. The Home Department issued a statement late evening affirming that no punitive or retaliatory legal action would be taken against any individual who participated in protests before 6 pm on July 26, 2026.
According to police records, a total of 694 people were detained for enforcing the Bihar bandh called on July 25 by left-leaning student unions. After releasing 339 minors, the remaining 355 individuals were booked under relevant laws and were facing trial.
Those arrested include CPI(ML) Liberation MLA Sandeep Saurav, who was picked up a day before the bandh, and former state minister Tej Pratap Yadav, who was taken into custody on Saturday evening for enforcing the shutdown. The arrests followed unrest that began on July 22, when a procession by the All India Students' Association (AISA) reached near the chief minister's residence.
The government statement said the legal process for withdrawing all First Information Reports (FIRs), criminal complaints, and show-cause notices against protesters will be initiated immediately. It added that all persons arrested or detained in connection with the cases shall be released forthwith, and no direct or indirect action will be taken against them in the future.
The announcement came hours after AISA president Neha Bora met Bihar Director General of Police Vinay Kumar and submitted a memorandum demanding withdrawal of cases and release of those arrested. She had warned that the state could witness protests on the scale of those at Jantar Mantar in Delhi if demands were not met, and expressed surprise that the government was acting harshly despite the Union government's assurance of no coercive action.
CPI(ML) Liberation general secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya, whose party is affiliated with AISA, welcomed the development. He shared screenshots of the Home Department statement on social media, calling it a victory for the people. Left-wing student organisations had held demonstrations across Bihar on July 25, some turning violent, in support of the bandh against the NEET paper leak and police action on students.
Leader of Opposition in the Bihar Assembly, Tejashwi Yadav, had also demanded the release of all protesters detained during the bandh.
