SC Orders Release of Minor Student Protesters, Warns Against Coercive Action
The Supreme Court on Tuesday intervened in the ongoing protests against exam paper leaks, directing the release of all arrested or detained students under 18 years without criminal antecedents. The court also considered setting up a Special Investigation Team (SIT) for a “completely independent, transparent, fair probe” into allegations of police excesses against protesters in Delhi and other states.
While allowing the investigation of FIRs to continue, the bench ordered that no coercive measures be taken against protesting students. However, this protection does not extend to individuals with criminal records. The directive came after reports of widespread arrests during protests over leaked examination papers.
Following the Supreme Court order, the BJP-ruled Maharashtra and West Bengal governments took initial steps to comply. Maharashtra began the process of withdrawing cases, while West Bengal assured it would not take “coercive action” against students. Earlier, Assam and Bihar had already announced the withdrawal of FIRs linked to the protests.
In Parliament, Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra criticized the Narendra Modi government during a debate on the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026. She said the Prime Minister must “change the angle of his heart rather than that of the cameras” to win over Gen Z. She also objected to BJP MPs garlanding former education minister Dharmendra Pradhan in Parliament, likening the reception to that for a “superstar”.
In a separate development, a detailed account of the gangland murder of Krishna Pillai in 1989 and its aftermath has emerged. Pillai’s son Kumar, extradited from Singapore and later acquitted in India, spoke about his father’s legacy and his own alleged role in a cycle of revenge killings. Kumar described his father as a “fair man” who would beat someone up but also ensure they received medical care. He expressed that his involvement in the underworld was never a choice but “life just happened to be this way.” The story highlights the long shadow of gang violence in Mumbai.
Meanwhile, a cybercrime hub resembling “mini Jamtara” has been uncovered in Uttar Pradesh’s Mathura district. Police say Mathura has become a major center for cyber fraud, with a network recruiting locals from villages. Over the past year, 177 cases have been registered and 312 suspects arrested. In a recent crackdown on July 7, digital leads traced 7,000 mobile numbers and 1,400 bank accounts, leading to 42 arrests. Authorities describe the network as highly organized with cells across India.
