Working In Russia, FIR In Bihar: How Bihar Police Messed Up Identities

Twenty-five-year-old Mohammad Sadakat was nearly 6,000 kilometres away in Russia when he discovered that his name had been included in an FIR over a protest against the NEET paper leak in Bihar’s Kishanganj.

He immediately recorded a video and uploaded it to Facebook, claiming that he had been in Russia for the past four months and had not participated in the protest. He also appealed to the Bihar Police to remove his name from the FIR.

On July 25, a clash broke out between the police and protesters during a demonstration in Bahadurganj, Kishanganj district. The local police station subsequently registered an FIR against 46 named individuals. Of them, 22 were detained, and legal action was initiated against them. However, the case took a turn when some of those named in the FIR claimed they were not present at the scene of the incident.

Shared a video on Facebook from Russia
On July 29, Mohammad Sadakat shared a video on Facebook “I am Mohammad Sadakat Konain Rahi. My name has also appeared in connection with the protest against the NEET paper leak. I have been in Russia for the past four months, so I appeal to the administration to remove my name", he said.

Sadakat also shared an image showing his location as Shakhty, Rostov Oblast, Russia.

BOOM contacted Mohammad Sadakat over the phone. He said he learnt from Bahadurganj Zila Parishad representative Imran Alam that his name had been included in the case related to the NEET paper leak protest.

“I was quite shocked. The first thing I did was record a video to defend myself and upload it on Facebook, tagging the Kishanganj Police,” Sadakat said.

Sadakat works for a school-bag manufacturing company in Shakhty. He said he arrived in Russia on March 30, 2026, on a two-year visa.

“I have not received any notice from the police. However, there is no one else named Sadakat Konain in my area, and the address mentioned in the FIR was also mine. That is why I think the police had registered my name,” he said.

Was in an examination hall at the time of the incident, yet named in the FIR
The FIR also names Adnan Amini, a resident of Ward No. 9 in Baisa village, who appeared for the Bihar Diploma in Elementary Education (D.El.Ed) examination on July 25.

He said, “On the day of the incident, I was in the examination hall and had exams during both shifts. My examination centre was in Kishanganj town, where I had papers in different subjects on July 24, 25, 27 and 28.”

Adnan shared his admit card with BOOM

He further said, “I learnt from close friends that the names included in the FIR had been made public and mine was among them. My family approached the police with a complaint that same day. The police said they would first verify the facts and take action based on the evidence.”

Adnan said the examination centre had CCTV cameras, and the school principal would provide CCTV footage from both examination shifts as evidence if the police visited for verification. He is concerned that his career could be affected if his name is not removed from the FIR.

Imran Alam, the Zila Parishad representative from Bahadurganj, said, “The names of 12 boys from my Laucha Panchayat have been included in the FIR, but around eight of them were not even present at the protest. One is in Russia, another was in Delhi, and one was appearing for the D.El.Ed examination. Another young man was working at a laboratory 25 kilometres away from the site of the incident, but the police detained him from there.”

Imran further alleged that someone may have provided the names to the police and that they were added without proper verification.

BOOM was unable to verify Imran Alam’s claims independently.

“Human errors can occur”: Kishanganj Police
Kishanganj Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) Siraj Khusro said that after Mohammad Sadakat’s details were verified, a correction letter was submitted to the court.

Responding to a question about the police error, he said, “In incidents involving large crowds, photographs are usually identified with the help of local residents, elected representatives and police constables. In such situations, human errors can occur.”

The police officer added, “Sometimes the wrong legal sections are applied, a name is missed, an incorrect name is included, or the wrong year of an Act is mentioned. In such cases, correction letters are submitted, and the errors are rectified.”

The SDPO said the police station had been receiving several requests from people seeking the removal of their names.

“As and when these cases are verified, the names will be removed,” he said.

Kishanganj’s acting Superintendent of Police, Harimohan Shukla, declined to comment on the matter.

Cases being withdrawn following Supreme Court order
The process of withdrawing cases registered in connection with protests held across the country over the NEET paper leak is underway following an order from the Supreme Court. On July 28, the Supreme Court directed the release of student protesters who were under the age of 18 and had no previous criminal record.

On July 27, the Bihar government announced that it would withdraw all cases filed against protesters over the NEET paper leak and release those arrested under various charges.