Booked over NEET paper leak protest, 49 get interim relief from Allahabad High Court

On August 19, the Allahabad High Court granted interim protection from arrest to 49 individuals who were booked for unlawful assembly and disobeying public orders during a protest on June 8 regarding the NEET paper leak and rising prices. The decision came after a plea filed by the 49 individuals who contested an FIR registered against them at the Kotwali Orai police station in Jalaun district under Sections 189(2) and 223 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.

The court, a division bench of Justices Rajeev Misra and Dr Ajay Kumar-II, granted the interim measure considering the facts and circumstances of the case and the submissions made by the petitioners' counsel. The petitioners, who included students from disadvantaged backgrounds, claimed their peaceful protest was politically motivated and that their prosecution was malicious and not genuine.

Despite the state's opposition, the court held that the additional government advocate could not dismiss the petitioners' factual and legal arguments. The court issued notices to the first informant and directed the respondents to file counter affidavits within four weeks, followed by petitioners' rejoinder affidavits in two weeks.

As interim protection, the bench ordered that the petitioners would not be arrested in connection with the FIR until further orders. The matter was scheduled to be listed for admission before the appropriate bench on October 7, 2026.