Overview
- The claim that expired tear-gas was used gained traction after a screenshot circulated on social media showed a shell fragment marked manufactured December 2022 and expiring December 2025.
- CJP leader Ashutosh Ranka shared the image and his post drew large online engagement, reported at more than 513,000 views, and protesters released videos from the Jantar Mantar site.
- The allegation is based on protester-shared photos and videos and has limited independent verification in the available coverage, with no official Delhi Police response included in these reports.
- The demonstration has run for over a month to demand Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation over an alleged NEET paper leak, and the protest held a 'Chalo Sandas' march after which a CJP spokesperson met BJP leader JP Nadda.
- Professor Sonam Wangchuk joined the protest on hunger strike, was moved to Safdarjung Hospital by police, and the Delhi High Court ordered his transfer to a private hospital, a development that has intensified legal and public scrutiny of how authorities handled the demonstrations.