NSA renewal not linked to CJP protest at Jantar Mantar, clarifies Delhi Police

The Delhi Police on Thursday dismissed claims that the extension of preventive detention powers under the National Security Act (NSA) was linked to the ongoing Cockroach Janta Party (CJP)-led protest over the NEET paper leak, saying the order was a routine administrative renewal issued before the demonstrations began.The clarification came after reports surfaced that the NSA renewal was invoked to quell the students' protest at Jantar Mantar. Politicians, including AIMIM MP Asaduddin Owaisi, had claimed that the government was using a "draconian" law to quell dissent, saying the youth were "not a threat to national security."In a statement, Delhi Police said the extension of NSA detention powers was a routine quarterly renewal issued before the CJP-led protest began. It said that misleading information was being circulated claiming that Delhi Police Commissioner Anurag Kumar, who assumed charge on July 17, had been granted detention powers under the NSA specifically to deal with the CJP protest."It is officially clarified that the order in question is a routine, quarterly extension of powers under the NSA, which is conventionally renewed every three months," the police said. FOLLOW CJP PROTEST LIVE BLOG UPDATES HEREWHAT IS NSA?The NSA empowers the Centre and state governments to order preventive detention of individuals to stop them from acting in a manner considered prejudicial to the defence of India, the security of the state, or the maintenance of public order. Preventive detention under the Act can range from three to 12 months, subject to review by an advisory board headed by a former high court judge. According to the police, the current NSA renewal was approved on July 7 and is effective from July 19 to October 18, predating the commencement of the CJP protests. Police also said no specific request had been made in connection with the ongoing agitation and that the order had been "interpreted out of context."The clarification followed Delhi Lieutenant Governor Taranjit Singh Sandhu's decision to extend the Delhi Police Commissioner's powers of preventive detention under Section 3(2) of the NSA until October 18 through a notification issued by the Delhi government's Home Department.A Delhi government official said the delegation of NSA detention powers to the Delhi Police Commissioner has been a long-standing practice since the 1980s and is routinely renewed every quarter.In a tweet, Owaisi lashed out at the "arrogant" government earlier today, claiming that NSA would be used to quell the CJP protest."A draconian Act will be used to quell the protests against NEET paper leak at Jantar Mantar. NSA allows the govt to throw you in jail for months without any 'appeal, vakeel or daleel.' The youth are not a threat to national security. A lazy and arrogant govt is," he wrote on X.ABOUT CJP PROTESTThe CJP has been protesting at Jantar Mantar since June 20, demanding action over the NEET paper leak and the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. On Monday, the outfit's "Chalo Sansad" march witnessed clashes between protesters and police, leaving several people, including security personnel, injured.The CJP has been spearheading protests over the NEET row and examination irregularities since June 6. It has demanded that Pradhan be immediately sacked and Rs 1 crore compensation be given to the families of those who died by suicide after the NEET paper leak.The protest gained momentum after activist Sonam Wangchuk joined the demonstration and began a hunger strike from June 28. He was earlier forcibly shifted to Safdarjung Hospital by police, and was later moved to Medanta Hospital in Gurugram following a Delhi High Court order.- Ends(with inputs from PTI)Published By: Prateek ChakrabortyPublished On: Jul 23, 2026 15:39 IST