Lawyer files POCSO complaint against CJP leaders over 12-year-old at protest

In Siliguri, lawyer Rinki Chatterjee Singh petitioned authorities to file a Zero FIR against CJP leaders Abhijeet Dipke, Saurav Das and other organizers, invoking the POCSO Act over a 12-year-old’s involvement in a July 20 protest at Jantar Mantar. The rally, organized by CJP, opposed a purported NEET exam paper leak and turned violent when police employed a lathi-charge, with protesters allegedly using abusive language toward Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Singh contended that a child of that age falls under the “child in need of care and protection” category and demanded investigation under Sections 13, 14, 15 of POCSO and Section 153 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. She also highlighted a video released by CJP demanding an apology from Modi for the police action, and raised questions about who financed the protest, accusing “deep state” elements, brokers and anti-national forces of backing it. Singh cited Modi’s subsequent social-media message forgiving the youth and promising no legal repercussions, arguing that the organizers remain responsible for involving minors.