Bihar withdraws cases, releases NEET protest detainees

The government of Bihar announced on Monday, July 27, 2026, that it will withdraw all criminal cases and release individuals detained in connection with statewide protests over the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) paper leak allegations. The decision, formalized in a notification from the state's Home Department, applies to all legal actions stemming from incidents that occurred before 6 p.m. on July 26.

The order states that the legal process to withdraw all First Information Reports, criminal complaints, and show-cause notices will begin immediately. It further assures that no punitive, retaliatory, or adverse legal action will be taken in the future against individuals who participated in the protests before the specified deadline. All persons arrested or detained in connection with these cases are to be released immediately.

The announcement follows days of significant unrest. According to police figures, 694 people were initially detained in connection with a statewide shutdown, or bandh, on July 25. After the release of 339 minors, the remaining 355 individuals were booked and remanded to judicial custody. The protests, which began escalating around July 22,...