Pune: Minister Chandrakant Patil says Delhi Police Will Link Fingerprints on Stones at Jantar Mantar to Aadhaar; Dhangekar Calls Remark Bizarre

Pune, 31st July 2026: Maharashtra Higher and Technical Education Minister Chandrakant Patil has once again sparked controversy with his remarks while commenting on the recent student protest at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar over the alleged NEET paper leak.

Addressing a press conference, Patil claimed that Delhi Police had prepared a “shocking and detailed” report on the protest and that every stone allegedly used during the violence had been collected for forensic examination.

“If anyone reads the report prepared by the police, they will be stunned. The police have collected every stone used during the stone-pelting. The fingerprints found on those stones will be linked with Aadhaar cards and the investigation will proceed accordingly,” Patil claimed.

He further alleged that Delhi Police had used advanced technology to analyse the protest and that the criminal records and motives of those detained had become clear during the investigation.

Referring to allegations made by Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi against Union Home Minister Amit Shah over the alleged lathi-charge on protesting students, Patil said Gandhi would now have to substantiate his claims in light of the evidence gathered by the police. He also claimed that the Delhi Police report would “expose the opposition.”

Patil further alleged that the government had credible information suggesting that the protest had received support from foreign sources and that anti-social elements had infiltrated the agitation.

“The administration did not stop the protesters until they began moving towards Parliament. The opposition should consider what the situation in the country would have been if the protesters had entered Parliament,” he said.

MLA Amal Mahadik, BJP district president Vijay Jadhav and other party office-bearers were present at the press conference.

Congress MLA Ravindra Dhangekar sharply criticised Patil’s statements, calling them “an example of how the intelligence of a person with Z-category security has become ‘YZ’.”

In a statement, Dhangekar sarcastically said Patil possessed such an extraordinary intellect that “even brilliant scientists would be left puzzled.” He added that Pune was “fortunate” to have such an MLA and Maharashtra even “luckier” to have him as the Higher and Technical Education Minister.

Dhangekar challenged Patil to demonstrate how fingerprints lifted from stones could be linked to Aadhaar cards.

“My request to Chandrakant Dada is to show how fingerprints from stones can be linked to Aadhaar cards. Otherwise, there would be nothing wrong with seeking his resignation as well,” he said.

He added that “nothing is more important than the future of our children,” while reiterating concerns over the alleged NEET paper leak issue.