A Delhi court on Saturday granted bail to Uday Bhanu Chib, National President of the Indian Youth Congress, in connection with his arrest over a protest staged during the India AI Impact Summit at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. The Duty Magistrate at Patiala House Court allowed Chib’s release on a personal bond of ₹50,000 with conditions that include surrendering his passport and electronic devices to the court. Police had sought an extended custody period, but the judge declined, noting that investigators failed to demonstrate sufficient grounds for prolonging his remand. Chib was detained after authorities linked him to a shirtless demonstration by IYC members inside the sprawling summit venue on 20 February, where activists unveiled slogans critical of the Prime Minister and government policies beneath their removed shirts. Delhi Police’s Crime Branch had subsequently arrested multiple participants, accusing them of unlawful assembly and obstructing officers, and had sought extended custodial interrogation powers. The court’s decision to grant bail came in the early hours, with Chib’s legal team arguing that the force had not provided convincing reasons for continued custody.
The demonstration at the globally-attended summit, a flagship international gathering on artificial intelligence drawing leaders from government and industry, had attracted significant political attention. The AI Impact Summit, which ran from 16 to 20 February, showcased technological innovations and brought together delegates from more than 100 countries, including policymakers, CEOs, and experts focused on shaping the future of AI governance and application. Within this high-profile setting, the IYC protest sought to highlight concerns around economic conditions and political grievances, tapping into wider debates on youth unemployment and governance.
As the case unfolded in court, the Delhi Police Crime Branch had filed a motion seeking a seven-day extension of Chib’s police custody to deepen investigation and questioning, along with separate requests for additional custody for two other accused. Defence lawyers opposed the application, urging the magistrate to consider the absence of clear justification for prolonged detention under procedural norms. The judge ruled against the extension, emphasising that procedural safeguards and rights of the accused should be upheld.
Chib’s bail order underscores the legal challenge that law enforcement faces in balancing investigative imperatives with judicial oversight. Legal experts have noted that extensions of police custody must be supported by articulated necessity to avoid arbitrary curtailment of personal liberties, a principle reflected in the court’s reasoning. The conditions attached to Chib’s release, including the surrender of travel documents and electronics, aim to mitigate risk of absconding or tampering with evidence while proceedings continue.
The protest itself catalysed vigorous political debate across the national landscape. Opposition figures portrayed the demonstration and subsequent arrests as symbolic of broader concerns over free speech and political dissent, with supporters describing the action as an assertion of youth voices on pressing national issues. Within the Congress fold, senior leaders publicly backed Chib’s stance, framing the protest as a legitimate expression of democratic rights and decrying what they described as overreach by authorities.
Conversely, critics including representatives from the ruling party characterised the protest as ill-timed and detrimental to the country’s international image during a marquee event. They raised questions about the appropriateness of staging politically charged demonstrations within a summit aimed at fostering global dialogue on technological advancement and cooperation. The friction highlighted tensions between political expression and maintaining decorum at internationally significant platforms.