Mumbai Police have registered 13 First Information Reports (FIRs) against nearly 400 people over protests held without permission between July 18 and July 22 in support of the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) agitation at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar.
Demonstrations took place at locations including Shivaji Park, Shiv Sena Bhavan in Dadar, Chaityabhoomi and Chembur, where protesters demanded action over alleged examination irregularities, reforms in India’s education system and the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
According to police, no permission had been granted for these gatherings due to prohibitory orders in force, and cases were registered under provisions related to unlawful assembly, disobedience of orders promulgated by a public servant, wrongful restraint and breach of prohibitory orders.
Officials said notices were served to those named in the FIRs and no major violence was reported. Police also initiated action over another protest held at Chaityabhoomi without permission and said they would continue enforcing legal restrictions to maintain law and order.
Police Cite Unauthorised Gatherings
According to Mumbai Police, the demonstrations unfolded across multiple parts of the city despite organisers not obtaining prior permission. One of the largest gatherings took place outside Shiv Sena Bhavan in Dadar, where protesters raised slogans against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
Hundreds also assembled near Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Garden in Chembur carrying placards demanding accountability for alleged examination paper leaks, reforms to the education system and justice for students. Police maintained a heavy deployment at all protest sites and said preventive measures were taken to avoid any untoward incidents.
Eyewitnesses alleged that several protesters in Chembur were detained and taken to nearby police stations, with videos circulating on social media showing demonstrators being escorted into police vehicles. Police said those detained were processed according to law, with notices issued in most cases before they were allowed to leave.
An official stated that the accused had been booked under provisions relating to unlawful assembly, wrongful restraint and disobedience of lawful orders. Authorities also confirmed that legal action was being initiated over another gathering at Chaityabhoomi in Dadar held without permission.
Throughout the five-day period, police stressed that their actions were aimed at enforcing prohibitory orders rather than responding to violence, noting that the demonstrations largely remained peaceful despite the scale of participation.
Movement Expands Beyond Delhi
The Mumbai demonstrations are part of a broader nationwide mobilisation led by the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP), which has gained momentum following allegations of irregularities in competitive examinations, including concerns surrounding NEET and other recruitment and entrance tests.
What began as a protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi has gradually evolved into a wider campaign demanding an independent investigation into alleged examination irregularities, accountability for those responsible for paper leaks, systemic reforms in India’s examination process and the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
The movement also gained greater political attention after activist Sonam Wangchuk’s transfer from the Jantar Mantar protest site to Safdarjung Hospital, prompting solidarity demonstrations in several cities. In Mumbai, the protests intensified after Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray addressed a gathering at Shivaji Park on July 19, criticising the Centre’s handling of the protests and urging citizens to continue raising their voices over education-related concerns and the treatment of protesters.
Police subsequently registered a separate FIR against organisers, stating that permission had not been granted for the event despite the large turnout. Meanwhile, support rallies have also been reported from cities including Bengaluru, Pune and Hyderabad, with much of the mobilisation taking place through student networks and social media rather than centralised political structures.
At the national level, Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently announced plans to establish fast-track courts for examination paper leak cases and promised stringent action against those responsible, though protesters have continued to press for broader reforms and ministerial accountability.
Police in Mumbai have indicated that prohibitory orders will remain in force and that action will continue against unauthorised demonstrations as authorities seek to prevent escalation while balancing public order concerns.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
The right to assemble peacefully and express dissent is a cornerstone of any democratic society, just as maintaining public order remains a legitimate responsibility of law enforcement agencies. The events in Mumbai once again highlight the delicate balance between these two constitutional principles.
While authorities have maintained that action was taken because the protests were organised without permission and in violation of prohibitory orders, the concerns raised by students and citizens over examination integrity, transparency and accountability continue to resonate across the country. Addressing such concerns through dialogue, timely institutional reforms and transparent investigations may prove more effective in rebuilding public trust than allowing grievances to deepen
