Bihar government to withdraw cases lodged against protesters over NEET paper leak, release those jailed

The Bihar government on Monday, July 27, 2026, announced that it will withdraw all cases filed against protesters due to leak of NEET papers and release those jailed on various charges.

A statement was made by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs late in the evening in this direction and it was said: “No negative legal action of a criminal/retaliatory nature will be initiated by the government against any person who participated in the protests before 18.00 on 26.07.2026.”

According to the police, a total of 694 people were detained for observing the Bihar Bandh called by the pro-Left student unions on July 25, and after 339 minors were released, the remaining 355 people were arrested under relevant laws and were being tried in relevant courts.

Those arrested by the police in connection with the unrest that started in the state on July 22, when a procession organized by AISA activists managed to reach the vicinity of the Prime Minister’s residence, include CPI(ML) Liberation MLA Sandeep Saurav, who was captured a day before the bandh, and former State minister Tej Pratap Yadav, who was detained on Saturday evening, July 25, 2026, for trying to force the shutdown.

In the statement, it was stated that “the legal process will be initiated immediately to withdraw all FIRs, criminal complaints and reasoned notices” against people who participated in the protests.

“Also, all persons arrested/detained in connection with the cases… will be released immediately” and “no direct or indirect action will be taken against these persons in the future,” the statement said.

The announcement came barely hours after All India Students Association (AISA) president Neha Bora, who was among those leading the protests at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi, summoned Bihar DGP Vinay Kumar and submitted a memorandum demanding withdrawal of all cases and release of those arrested.

He also told reporters that if the demands were not met, the state could witness “protests on the scale of Jantar Mantar in Delhi” and expressed surprise that the Samrat Choudhary government in Bihar had allegedly acted repressively “even though the Union government had assured that there would be no coercive action”.

Dipankar Bhattacharya, general secretary of CPI(ML) Liberation, which is affiliated with AISA’s party, expressed satisfaction over the development.

Participating in the protests at Jantar Mantar, Mr. Bhattacharya shared screenshots of the Bihar Home Ministry’s statement on X and said, “Another retreat for the BJP, victory for the people.”

Left-wing student organizations had held demonstrations in Bihar on July 25 in support of the statewide bandh against the NEET paper leak issue and police action against protesting students; Some of these demonstrations turned violent.

Leader of Opposition in Bihar Assembly Tejashwi Yadav had also demanded the release of all protesters detained and arrested during the Bihar bandh.