Rahul Gandhi dharna in Delhi LIVE: Delhi Police to register FIR over pellet injuries to youth during July 20 protest

“The Delhi Police will register an FIR in connection with pellet injuries suffered by a youth during the July 20 protest at Jantar Mantar,” an official source said on Friday (August 21, 2026).

The move comes after Congress leader Rahul Gandhi staged a dharna at the Parliament Street police station, demanding registration of the FIR in connection with pellet injuries suffered by 19-year-old Sahil Lochab during the CJP-led protest. “We will be registering an FIR in the matter,” the source said.

Mr. Gandhi, accompanied by Sahil Lochab, first visited the Mandir Marg police station and sought the registration of the FIR.

After his demand was not accepted, he went to the Parliament Street police station and met Deputy Commissioner of Police (Central) Sachin Sharma before staging a sit-in. – PTI

Trinamool Congress joint secretary Derek O’Brien accused the ruling BJP of trying to “cover up” the issue of pellet guns being used on protesting students in Delhi on July 20.

The remarks came as Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi sat on a dharna at the Parliament Street police station in New Delhi and said he would not budge until an FIR is registered on a complaint by a youth who suffered pellet injuries during the Cockroach Janta Party-led July 20 protest.

“Pellets. On August 10, an RTI filed by TMC’s Saket Gokhale first revealed the truth about the pellet criminal conspiracy. Modi-Shah’s beleaguered government still in cover-up mode,” Mr. O’Brien said. – PTI

Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda on Friday (August 21, 2026) slammed Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over protest at Parliament Street Police Station, saying the Supreme Court has has constituted a five-member high-powered committee headed by a former judge to probe the July 20 incident in the national capital and alleged that the Congress leader was indulging in “camera-centric drama merely to keep himself in the headlines”.

Mr. Nadda alleged that Mr. Gandhi had indulged in “cheap, attention-seeking politics” outside the Sansad Marg police station.

– ANI

The Supreme Court on Thursday (July 30, 2026) said the use of pellet guns by the police in “exceptional circumstances” was part of a graded approach to break civilian protests.

The court, however, did not expand on which “exceptional circumstances” justified the use of pellet guns, nor did it ask the Union government for an explanation during the hearing.

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Congress asserted that the dharna would continue till an FIR is registered by Delhi Police over pellet injuries suffered by a youth, 19-year-old Sahil Lochab, during the CJP-led July 20 protest.

“Our demand is simple — register an FIR and give us the FIR number. LoP Rahul Gandhi is giving voice to this demand,” Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh told reporters at the Parliament Street police station.

“Sahil has demanded an FIR on the illegal action of using a pellet gun by the police. Rahul ji is clear that until a new FIR is registered, we will not leave from here,” he said.

Ramesh said the Congress was acting according to the Constitution and was well within its right to protest peacefully.

– PTI

As Rahul Gandhi staged a dharna at a police station here, the Congress on Friday accused the BJP of communalising the situation in the country, evading accountability and raising non-issues.

Hitting out at the BJP, Congress general secretary in-charge communications, Jairam Ramesh, said there is an attempt to communalise the situation, evade accountability, evade responsibility and raise non-issues.

“An Indian youth anguished by the paper leak in the Staff Selection Commission was protesting on July 20. He did not belong to any political party, he had no political affiliation and a pellet gun was used on him,” Mr. Ramesh said.

– PTI

In a statement to the media, BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad criticises LoP Rahul Gandhi, accusing him of “politics of anarchy” for sitting on dharna at Parliament Street police station without prior permission. 

He said the police informed Mr. Gandhi that an FIR had already been registered and the matter was under investigation. 

Mr. Prasad also cited the Supreme Court-appointed high-powered committee, questioning Mr. Gandhi’s respect for law and alleging that Congress was now trapped by its own political stance on Vande Mataram.

The Deputy Commissioner of Police (Central), Sachin Sharma, said that the complaint has been received and that proceedings have been ongoing regarding pellet gun use during the CJP-led student protest on July 20. He said that a case regarding the issue is already being heard in the Supreme Court.

The crime branch is already looking into all July 20 related cases, he said. 

– Shrimansi Kaushik

Story so far: At least one of the 80 protesters injured in police action during the Monday (July 20, 2026) march to Parliament called by Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) sustained pellet gun injuries, according to a source at Lady Hardinge Medical College, where the victim is undergoing treatment. While the Delhi Police has denied using pellet guns and said such claims are “false and misleading”, the allegations have been strong against the Rapid Action Force, a specialised rapid reaction wing of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF). This prompts questions over the legal framework governing the use of pellet guns and non-lethal weapons for crowd control in India.

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Days after the Delhi Police denied the usage of pellet guns during the July 20 march to Parliament — in which at least four persons reported being hit with pellets — a general diary entry filed at Parliament Street police station reveals that the Rapid Action Force (RAF) did fire two rounds from an anti-riot gun on the directions of a Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) rank officer.

Delhi Police authorised pellet gun use against protestors on July 20: RAF general diary entry

Document reveals RAF used pellet guns on protesters in Delhi, contradicting police claims and raising concerns over excessive force.

Rapid Action Force has been deployed in and around the Parliament Street police station, where Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is sitting on a dharna demanding registration of an FIR over pellet injuries suffered by a youth during the CJP-led July 20 protest, police sources said on Friday (August 21, 2026).

A large number of police and RAF personnel have been deployed around the police station, which also houses the New Delhi DCP’s office.

Additional police personnel have been pressed into service in view of Rahul Gandhi’s sit-in, the sources said.

– PTI

At least one of the 80 protesters injured in police action during the Monday (July 20, 2026) march to Parliament called by Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) sustained pellet gun injuries, according to a source at Lady Hardinge Medical College, where the victim is undergoing treatment.

Pellet guns, shock batons used against protesters in Delhi; police deny

Police deny using pellet guns and shock batons during Delhi protests, despite reports of injuries among demonstrators.

“Sahil wants to file FIR, but that is not being allowed. If not Delhi Police, then who? We are only asking for justice for the family,” Mr. Gandhi said, speaking to media outside the police station.

According to the Congress party, Mr. Lochab had approached the Delhi Police along with his lawyers on August 14 and submitted a written complaint. However, the police allegedly did not provide an I/O number or acknowledgement. The complaint was again pursued on August 17 through email and phone, but no I/O number or acknowledgement was provided, they said.