As Parliament prepares to take up the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026 on Monday, another issue linked to the NEET paper leak protests has moved to the centre of the political debate — the alleged use of pellet guns during a student demonstration in Delhi.

The proposed law aims to strengthen action against examination paper leaks. But Opposition parties say Parliament must also address what happened when students protesting over alleged irregularities were stopped during the July 20 'Sansad Chalo' march.

The two issues are now unfolding simultaneously, with the proposed legislation focusing on preventing future exam fraud while the Opposition is demanding accountability for the handling of the protests.

What is the pellet gun row?

The controversy stems from the July 20 march towards Parliament organised by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), a youth movement demanding accountability over the NEET paper leak.

During clashes between protesters and security personnel in central Delhi, allegations emerged that pellet guns had been used. Delhi Police denied its personnel fired pellet guns.

However, sources told The Indian Express that an internal CRPF review found a Rapid Action Force (RAF) personnel fired seven rounds from a pellet gun in the Connaught Place area. According to the report, five rounds struck protesters while two hit the ground after protesters allegedly attacked security personnel and threw stones.

The CRPF has said it will carry out a professional post-event assessment after the agitation ended. The force has not officially confirmed the findings reported by the newspaper.

Three people, including a Delhi University student and a journalist, were among those treated for pellet gun injuries after the protest.

The newspaper also reported that an internal review highlighted operational lapses and reminded personnel that force should follow a graded approach, including warnings and approved crowd-control measures before stronger action is taken.

What questions is the Opposition raising?

Opposition parties are not questioning the proposed anti-paper leak law itself. Their focus is on the police response to the protests.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has written to Union Home Minister Amit Shah seeking accountability over the alleged use of pellet guns. He has asked whether the use of such force was authorised, who approved it if it was, and whether people seen in plain clothes assaulting protesters were linked to the police or officially deployed.

Trinamool Congress MP Sagarika Ghose has sought a discussion in the Rajya Sabha under Rule 267, raising concerns over the alleged use of excessive force against student protesters. Her notice questions who authorised the use of pellet guns and whether established protocols were followed.

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut has also blamed the Union Home Minister for the police action during the march, while the BJP has rejected the allegations.

Meanwhile, the government is expected to introduce and seek passage of the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026, which proposes stricter penalties, dedicated judicial mechanisms and faster investigations to curb paper leaks in competitive examinations. As the legislation comes before Parliament, the Opposition is expected to press for answers on the events of July 20 alongside the debate on examination reforms.