Delhi Police has invoked the charge of attempted murder in the FIR registered in connection with the violence that broke out near Rail Bhawan and Parliament during the July 20 protest march, while also warning the public against AI-generated misinformation and announcing the formation of a Special Task Force (STF) to investigate paper leak cases.
According to police, the FIR was registered at Kartavya Path Police Station on the complaint of an Inspector deployed on security duty at C-Hexagon, Zone-11 (Pink Booth), from 5 a.m. on July 20.
The complaint states that after receiving information over the wireless network, police personnel rushed to the barricades near the Rail Bhawan roundabout, where thousands of protesters had gathered. Repeated announcements were made informing the crowd that prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) were in force and that permission had not been granted for the protest.
Despite repeated warnings, the protesters allegedly refused to disperse and continued raising slogans. The FIR further alleges that some individuals instigated the crowd to breach the barricades and march towards Parliament.
According to the complaint, protesters surrounded police personnel, assaulted them, and hurled slippers and stones. The FIR alleges that the mob attacked police officers with the intention to kill, leaving several personnel injured. It also states that public property and several private vehicles were damaged during the violence.
Police said security personnel resorted to a lathi-charge and tear gas to disperse the crowd and restore order, citing the sensitive security environment around Parliament and other key government buildings.
The case has been registered under 13 provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including Section 109(1) relating to attempted murder, along with charges of assault on public servants, obstruction of official duty, unlawful assembly, rioting, damage to public property and acts endangering human life.
According to Delhi Police, 129 police personnel and more than 60 protesters sustained injuries during the clashes. Around 15 FIRs have been registered so far in connection with the violence, while 18 Deputy Commissioners of Police (DCPs) have been deployed across various routes as part of enhanced security arrangements.
Police also said that any allegations made by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) or any other individual or organisation regarding the incident would be examined and investigated, with the findings made public.
Addressing a press conference, DCP (Central) Rohit Rajbir Singh urged citizens not to trust unverified social media content, warning that fake news, AI-generated videos, deepfakes and edited clips were being widely circulated during the protests.
He said Delhi Police had been continuously monitoring social media and identifying misleading content aimed at disrupting law and order. Singh cited false claims that a woman had died due to police action during the July 20 protest, clarifying that no deaths had occurred.
He also referred to a social media post by AAP convenor Arvind Kejriwal, alleging that it falsely claimed the Centre was preparing a crackdown on protesters at Jantar Mantar. Police said the claim was incorrect and appealed to the public not to circulate unverified information.
The DCP further alleged that Pakistan-based social media accounts were actively spreading misinformation related to the protests. According to police, more than 400 such accounts have been identified and blocked for sharing AI-generated videos, deepfakes, edited images and other misleading content. Similar accounts, he said, had also spread fake information during Operation Sindoor last year.
Police also highlighted deepfake videos falsely attributed to climate activist Sonam Wangchuk and a fabricated statement purportedly made by Lt. General Rajeev Puri, Director General of Military Operations (DGMO), claiming the Army was being deployed in Delhi.
Meanwhile, Singh announced that the Delhi Police Crime Branch has constituted a Special Task Force (STF) to investigate paper leak cases. The unit will be headed by a DCP-rank officer under the supervision of the Special Commissioner of Police (Crime), in line with the Centre's commitment to tackling examination-related offences.
Delhi Police also thanked peaceful protesters and volunteers at Jantar Mantar for their cooperation in helping maintain law and order during the demonstrations.
