CJP protest: Maharashtra Congress demands withdrawal of cases against student protesters in Mumbai

State Congress president Harshwardhan Sapkal led a delegation of party leaders to meet top Mumbai Police officials. File Pic

The Maharashtra Congress has demanded the withdrawal of what it described as "false" criminal cases filed against hundreds of students who took part in protests in Mumbai in support of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP)-led agitation in New Delhi, reported the PTI.

State Congress president Harshwardhan Sapkal led a delegation of party leaders, including Congress Working Committee member Naseem Khan and former Mumbai Congress chief Bhai Jagtap, to submit a memorandum to Director General of Police Sadanand Date and Mumbai Police Commissioner Deven Bharti, the news agency reported.

In the memorandum, the Congress alleged that students were illegally detained and that false FIRs had been registered during the recent police action against protesters.

The party claimed that between 500 and 700 students were taken into preventive custody in Mumbai on July 20 and 22, before they could reach protest venues.

It further alleged that many students were detained at metro stations, on public roads and even outside their homes.

Concerns over police procedures

The Congress also alleged that police officers checked students' mobile phones without proper authority and asked them to share their live locations.

According to the memorandum, 200 to 300 students remained in police custody at stations in areas including Dharavi, Mahim, Juhu, Chembur and Dadar.

These allegations have not been independently verified.

Demands made to police

The party called for the immediate release of all detained students, the withdrawal of all FIRs and departmental action against officers accused of violating legal procedures.

It also urged the police to withdraw criminal cases against minors and young students, arguing that such cases could affect their education, employment opportunities and prospects of studying abroad.

Sapkal said the Congress would continue its agitation in support of students if the police did not take corrective action, according to the PTI.

On Wednesday, Mumbai Police said they had registered 13 FIRs since July 18 in connection with the ongoing protests for offences including unlawful assembly and violation of prohibitory orders, with around 400 people named in the cases.

Police said notices had been issued to those named in the FIRs before they were allowed to leave, while investigations into the cases are continuing.

(with PTI inputs)