Legal Team Secures Immediate Release for 16 Kolkata Protesters Following Supreme Court Mandate
Coordinated legal efforts led to the swift release of 16 individuals detained during the July 24 education ministry protests. The outcome followed a Supreme Court directive and the subsequent withdrawal of charges by Kolkata Police.
A coordinated effort by a coalition of senior criminal defense attorneys resulted in the release of 16 individuals detained following the July 24 demonstrations in Kolkata. The protesters, who were demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, had been held in custody after clashes at the Dorina Crossing in Esplanade. By late Tuesday, all 16 were granted bail and freed within hours of a landmark Supreme Court intervention.
Strategic Legal Coalition Challenged State Crackdown
Under the banner of the All India Lawyers’ Union, 11 senior criminal lawyers and their associates provided pro bono representation for the accused. The team included prominent legal figures who have previously defended victims in high-profile cases, such as the R.G. Kar investigations and the school recruitment scam. The 16 detainees—comprising students, market vendors, and social workers—faced seven separate FIRs. These included six complaints from journalists alleging assault and a suo motu FIR from the police citing unlawful assembly and provocative speech. In a significant move, the state also invoked the West Bengal Public Safety and Control of Anti-Social Activities Act, 2026.
Arguments Against Criminal Intent
Syed Nafirul Islam, a veteran lawyer leading the defense, characterized the arrests as a threat to constitutional rights. He argued that the prosecution lacked forensic or video evidence connecting the specific defendants to acts of vandalism or stone-pelting. During initial hearings, the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate’s (CMM) court had remanded the group to police custody, followed by judicial custody until July 30. Counsel maintained that the presence of the accused near the clash did not constitute criminal intent. "Participating in a protest is not a crime," Islam stated, emphasizing the democratic necessity of public demonstration.
Supreme Court Directive Forces Police Retraction
The legal landscape shifted on Tuesday, July 28, 2026, when the Supreme Court directed state authorities to release protesters and drop charges for minors or those without criminal records. Islam’s team immediately submitted the apex court order to the CMM. By Tuesday afternoon, Kolkata Police informed the court they were withdrawing the suo motu FIR and dropping all charges against the 16 individuals. Raja Sengupta, secretary of the Bankshall Court Bar Association, noted that while governmental pressure on protesters is a recurring trend, the legal team’s duty was to protect the exercise of democratic rights. Calcutta High Court advocate Ejaz Akhtar described the result as a confirmation of judicial integrity, noting that while large gatherings may involve minor friction, state humiliation of participants remains unacceptable.
Source: The Hindu — National
