Delhi Police: To Quash 13 CJP Protest FIRs, Seek Fresh FIR for Others

• Delhi Police informed the Supreme Court it would quash 13 FIRs related to the July 2026 CJP protests.
• The government requested the Supreme Court to invoke its Article 142 powers to quash these cases, which included charges like rioting and attempt to murder.
• Prosecution will proceed against 2,873 individuals identified with serious criminal antecedents, under a new, consolidated FIR.
• Solicitor General Tushar Mehta presented the application to the Supreme Court.
• The decision to drop the 13 FIRs was made by the Central Government on July 25, 2026.

Lawyers representing individuals caught up in the CJP protests must meticulously verify whether their clients' specific FIRs are among those being quashed or if they fall into the category of individuals subject to the new, consolidated FIR due to prior criminal history.

The Delhi Police has informed the Supreme Court of its intention to quash 13 First Information Reports (FIRs) that were registered against individuals involved in the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protests. These specific FIRs stemmed from incidents occurring between July 20 and July 25, 2026, and encompassed serious charges such as rioting, attempt to murder, and property damage.

This decision was communicated to the Court through an application, where the government explicitly stated its disinterest in further pursuing these 13 cases. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta presented this application before the Supreme Court, seeking the Court's intervention to formalize the quashing of these particular FIRs.

To effectuate the quashing of these 13 FIRs, the government has formally requested the Supreme Court to exercise its extraordinary powers under Article 142 of the Constitution. This constitutional provision allows the Supreme Court to pass any order necessary for doing complete justice in any cause or matter pending before it.

However, the Delhi Police's proposal is not a blanket amnesty. While 13 FIRs are slated for quashing, the prosecution of 2,873 individuals identified as having "serious criminal antecedents" will continue. For this group, the police intend to register a single, fresh FIR, consolidating their alleged offenses. The application specifically sought permission to register this new FIR, limited to these identified individuals.

The move by the Delhi Police to quash certain CJP protest FIRs, while simultaneously pursuing others, creates a bifurcated outcome for those involved in the July 2026 demonstrations. The decision to no longer pursue the initial 13 FIRs was made by the Central Government on July 25, 2026, and subsequently communicated by the Delhi Police. These FIRs were originally lodged at various police stations, including prominent locations like Barakhamba Road and Kartavya Path.

This development highlights a critical distinction between protestors whose cases will be dropped and those who will face renewed legal action under a consolidated charge. Lawyers representing individuals caught up in the CJP protests must meticulously verify whether their clients' specific FIRs are among those being quashed or if they fall into the category of individuals subject to the new, consolidated FIR due to prior criminal history. The invocation of Article 142 by the Supreme Court for this action underscores the judicial oversight in this complex legal maneuver.

Lawyers representing individuals involved in the CJP protests should verify if their clients' specific FIRs are being quashed or if they are subject to the new consolidated FIR for those with criminal antecedents, especially given the invocation of Article 142 by the Supreme Court for this action.

Source: Original reporting via Bar and Bench