NEET Protester Rhiya Ahir Seeks FIR Withdrawal Over Shivaji Park Demonstration

Model and protester Rhiya Ahir has approached senior Mumbai Police officials seeking the withdrawal of a First Information Report (FIR) registered against her following a demonstration at Shivaji Park in Dadar, while also requesting action against individuals allegedly issuing threats against her on social media.

Ahir met Joint Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) Manoj Sharma alongside a delegation from the Mumbai Youth Congress. The delegation formally raised concerns regarding the criminal case filed against Ahir as well as the targeted online harassment she has reportedly faced since the demonstration.

The case originated from a protest in Mumbai concerning the alleged National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) paper leak. During the protest at Shivaji Park, Ahir allegedly stopped a police vehicle, which led authorities to register an FIR against her and fellow demonstrators.

According to Youth Congress leaders present at the meeting, Joint Commissioner Sharma assured the representatives that the process to withdraw the FIR would be initiated. The officer also indicated that police would investigate the social media accounts allegedly responsible for sending threats and abusive messages to Ahir.

Speaking after the meeting, Ahir stated that she had been subjected to a continuous stream of offensive comments and threats across online platforms following the protest. Ahir noted that she had previously approached the police with a formal complaint regarding the abuse, but claimed that no concrete action had been taken up to that point.

"Being a girl is the biggest punishment," Ahir said while describing the nature of the online abuse directed at her.

The delegation accompanying Ahir included Youth Congress National Secretary Hargun Singh and Mumbai Youth Congress President Zeenat Shabreen. During the meeting, Singh questioned the ongoing delay in withdrawing cases against students who participated in the demonstration, stating that a notification regarding the withdrawal of such cases had already been issued.

Ahir also brought forward the case of Muskaan, a 19-year-old protest participant who has allegedly faced similar abusive comments and online intimidation following the demonstration. Shabreen stated that the young women were being targeted for expressing their views and demanded swift police action against the accounts involved in harassment and intimidation.