AI Summit Protest Case: Delhi Court Sends IYC Chief Uday Bhanu Chib To Judicial Custody
The Patiala House Court remanded IYC President Uday Bhanu Chib to judicial custody after directing verification of the surety bond furnished pursuant to his bail in the AI Summit protest case
Patiala House Court remanded IYC President Uday Bhanu Chib to judicial custody pending verification of his surety bond in the AI Summit protest case
The Patiala House Court on Saturday remanded Indian Youth Congress (IYC) National President Uday Bhanu Chib to judicial custody, even as he had been granted bail earlier in the day.
The court directed verification of the surety bond furnished on Chib’s behalf and sought a report by tomorrow. Pending verification, the court ordered that he be remanded to judicial custody.
Chib was arrested by the Delhi Police Crime Branch in connection with the February 20 protest at Bharat Mandapam during the AI Impact Summit in the national capital. The demonstration, described by police as a “shirtless protest,” led to the arrest of eight individuals, including the IYC chief.
Earlier in the day, a Duty Magistrate had granted bail to Chib after the prosecution failed to persuade the court on the need for further police custody. However, as part of the bail conditions, the accused was required to furnish a surety bond.
During the subsequent proceedings before the Patiala House Court, the judge directed that the surety bond be verified before Chib could be released. The court called for a verification report by tomorrow and, in the interim, remanded him to judicial custody.
Judicial custody implies that the accused will remain in jail under the authority of the court, as opposed to police custody where the investigating agency has direct control for interrogation purposes.
In the morning, Appearing for Chib, Advocate Sulaiman Mohammad Khan had informed the court that the Crime Branch had moved an application seeking a seven-day extension of police custody remand (PC remand) of the IYC leader. The police also filed two separate applications seeking five-day and two-day remand of two other accused persons. However, the court was not persuaded. “We moved an application seeking bail for the National President, Uday Bhanu Chib. The Duty Magistrate was pleased to grant bail and has recorded in the order that the Crime Branch was unable to explain the reasons for seeking extension of police custody remand,” Khan had stated after the hearing.
According to the defence, Chib had already been in police custody for four days prior to the remand extension plea. Advocate Roopesh Singh Bhadauria highlighted procedural concerns surrounding the timing of the production before the Magistrate. “This was not a fresh arrest. He had already been in police custody for four days. We received a message at midnight stating he would be produced at 6 am. Then at 12:30 am, we were informed he would be produced at 1 am. The hearing began around 1:30 am,” Bhadauria had reportedly said, adding that the defence rushed to court after the last-minute intimation.
The court had ultimately declined to extend Chib’s custodial interrogation, noting the absence of compelling justification from the investigating agency. Bail was granted subject to certain conditions. Chib has been directed to surrender his passport and electronic gadgets before the court and furnish a surety bond of ₹50,000.
The case stems from a protest staged by members of the Indian Youth Congress at Bharat Mandapam on February 20, coinciding with the AI Impact Summit. According to the Delhi Police Crime Branch, eight individuals, including Chib, were arrested in connection with the demonstration, which reportedly involved a “shirtless protest” within the event premises.
While the police sought extended custody for further investigation, the defence maintained that no concrete material had been presented to justify continued detention of the IYC leader.
Notably, on February 24, the court had granted four days’ police custody of Chib. During the police remand hearing, the Delhi Police had submitted that Chib, as IYC president, was the “mastermind” behind the demonstration and that there was a common intention among the accused. Police further argued that custodial interrogation was necessary as other accused persons were located in Jammu, Uttar Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh, and that funds and logistical arrangements needed to be traced.
Order Date: February 28, 2026