New Delhi authorities arrested Uday Bhanu Chib, the national president of the Indian Youth Congress, after interrogating him for about 20 hours in connection with a high-profile demonstration during an international technology summit, law enforcement officials and political figures said. Chib has been formally booked on multiple charges, including criminal conspiracy, voluntarily causing harm to a public servant, obstructing a public servant on duty and wilful disobedience of an order, marking a significant escalation in the case tied to civil dissent at the AI Impact Summit held at Bharat Mandapam. The Delhi Police took Chib into custody in the early hours of Tuesday, producing him before the Patiala House court later in the morning as part of an ongoing investigation into a demonstration staged by members of the Indian Youth Congress. Authorities allege that the protest involved activists removing their shirts to reveal slogans, an act they contend went beyond permissible conduct and disrupted the event attended by foreign delegates and dignitaries.
Officials informed the court they require further custody to question Chib in relation to evidence suggesting he provided logistical support and direction for the protest, which is claimed to have been aimed at drawing attention to contentious political issues during the summit. Police have argued that interview statements and movement data necessitate Chib’s presence for more detailed interrogation.
The charges under which Chib is booked fall under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and other penal statutes, invoking scrutiny of whether the demonstration amounted to orchestrated criminal activity. Investigators are also examining whether the printing and dissemination of protest materials had financial backing from organised sources. Police have framed the inquiry as a probe into potential conspiracy beyond a spontaneous act of dissent by a handful of youth activists.
In court proceedings, the police requested extended custody, arguing that multiple locations must be visited and additional suspects interrogated to piece together the planning and execution of the protest. Law enforcement also indicated coordination with the Crime Branch’s Inter-State Cell to widen the scope of the investigation.
Chib’s legal representation countered the police narrative, asserting that their client was not present at the site of the protest and did not communicate orders to orchestrate the demonstration. The defence highlighted that as the elected president of the Indian Youth Congress, Chib’s role is organisational and political, not operational, and insisted that protests are a fundamental aspect of democratic expression. The lawyer added that Chib’s involvement should not be equated with criminal intent or action.
Political reactions to Chib’s arrest were swift and sharply polarised. A senior opposition leader condemned the police action, branding it indicative of authoritarian behaviour and an attempt to stifle dissent. Describing Chib with a term denoting courage and resilience, the critic urged party members to stand united in what was characterised as an attack on democratic norms.
Pro-government voices framed the demonstration and ensuing legal action as a matter of upholding law and order at an event designed to showcase technological cooperation and international engagement. They argued that protests with provocative symbolism, especially when involving allegations around foreign policy and trade deals, risk undermining the country’s image on the global stage.
Chib’s trajectory in Indian politics has seen him rise through organisational ranks over the last decade, culminating in his appointment as president of the Indian Youth Congress in 2024, succeeding his predecessor in the role. His leadership is viewed by supporters as emblematic of rising youth voices within established political parties, while critics within rival camps have often characterised the group’s activism as confrontational.
The demonstration that triggered the legal case took place inside Hall No. 5 of the summit venue, where activists registered online and accessed the event space in order to stage their act. Police are scrutinising registration records and digital evidence to ascertain the sequence of events on the day of the protest, which has now led to eight individuals being implicated in the broader inquiry.