New Delhi: Senior advocate and Independent Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal on Monday announced a nationwide legal support initiative for individuals associated with the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) who are facing FIRs, arrests and other police action following the recent wave of protests over alleged examination irregularities and youth-related issues. As part of the initiative, Sibal pledged ₹1 crore to establish a legal defence fund and appealed to lawyers across the country to volunteer their services for affected protesters.
▶️ #WATCH | Prominent senior advocate and Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal @KapilSibal and CJP leaders including @SauravDassss @abhijeet_dipke and @AshutoshRanka called an emergency press conference regarding the FIRs and court cases filed against students and protesters following the… pic.twitter.com/ZzzFOIAJX7
— HNP NEWS (@hnpnewz) July 27, 2026
A Nationwide Legal Aid Network
Addressing a press conference alongside CJP leaders, Sibal said the objective was to ensure that every protester facing criminal proceedings receives competent legal representation, irrespective of financial background. He announced that the fund would be used to coordinate legal assistance, engage advocates, and support litigation for those booked during the protests.
Calling upon the legal fraternity to participate, Sibal urged advocates from district courts to the Supreme Court to join what he described as an effort to protect constitutional rights and access to justice. He also appealed to citizens to contribute to the legal aid campaign, stressing that even small donations would strengthen the initiative.
Website to Connect Protesters and Lawyers
The CJP announced that it would launch a dedicated online platform to collect public donations and connect lawyers with protesters requiring legal assistance. According to party leaders, the portal will enable affected individuals to register their cases, seek legal guidance and access volunteer advocates across different states.
The party said the legal support mechanism had already begun functioning in some states where protesters have reportedly been booked following demonstrations.
Allegations of Continued Police Action
The announcement comes amid CJP’s allegations that students and activists continue to face arrests, detentions and fresh FIRs in several states, including Bihar, Assam and West Bengal, despite earlier assurances that peaceful protesters would not be targeted after the demonstrations concluded.
CJP leaders demanded immediate withdrawal of what they termed “politically motivated” cases and warned that continued police action could trigger another phase of nationwide protests. They also unveiled the ‘Saakshi’ evidence vault, a digital repository intended to preserve videos, photographs and other material related to the protests for use in legal proceedings.
Sibal Stresses Constitutional Rights
Sibal argued that the right to peaceful protest is protected under the Constitution and maintained that legal assistance should be available to anyone facing prosecution for exercising democratic rights. He said the initiative was not merely about defending individual cases but about safeguarding constitutional freedoms and ensuring that citizens have access to fair legal representation.
Growing Political Significance
The legal support initiative marks another significant development in the aftermath of the nationwide CJP-led protests, which began over allegations surrounding examination paper leaks and later expanded into a broader youth movement demanding accountability, education reforms and employment opportunities. The protests have drawn attention from opposition leaders and legal professionals, while also leading to heightened political debate over police action and civil liberties.
