BREAKING| AI Summit Protest Case: Delhi Court Grants 4-Day Police Custody Of IYC Chief Udai Bhanu Chib

Chib was produced before a Judicial Magistrate at Patiala House Courts amid heavy security. The prosecution, led by Public Prosecutor Atul Srivastava, sought seven days’ custody, alleging that Chib “hatched the conspiracy” and arranged logistics for the protestors.

Delhi Police 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.

The court questioned the necessity of a full seven-day remand. The prosecution responded that the investigation had been transferred to the Crime Branch, specifically the Inter-State Crime Branch, and that the broader conspiracy angle required custodial interrogation across states.

Senior Advocate Sanjoy Ghosh, appearing for Chib, strongly opposed the plea for police custody. He argued that the remand should not be granted in a “mechanical manner” and stressed that the accused had already joined the investigation twice.

“He is the president of the Indian Youth Congress. He is not absconding; he is in Delhi,” Ghosh submitted. He contended that the protestors were unarmed and that characterising the incident as a riot-like situation was “totally wrong.”

Ghosh said that while serious crimes plague the city, police were focusing on recovering T-shirts in this case. “In a city where people are being murdered, the police are recovering the T-shirts. This is really a downfall,” he argued.

He further submitted that questions relating to where the T-shirts were printed or who financed them could be answered without custodial interrogation. “If they want to know the name, police can ask the same without taking me in custody,” he said.

Rebutting the allegations of conspiracy, the defence questioned what preparation, if any, was made by the accused to create a rioting situation. The counsel maintained that there was no material to suggest violence or armed mobilisation.

After hearing both sides, the court reserved orders on the custody plea for 12:30 PM. Later in the day, the court granted four days’ police custody to Delhi Police, partially allowing the remand sought by the prosecution.

The case relates to protests staged by members of the Indian Youth Congress during the AI Impact Summit held at Bharat Mandapam in the national capital. Delhi Police sources confirmed that the matter has now been transferred to the Crime Branch, with the Inter-State Crime Branch taking over further investigation.

With the custody granted, investigators are expected to question Chib regarding the planning, funding and coordination of the protest, as well as the involvement of other alleged participants across states.

In a related news, Judicial Magistrate Ravi of Patiala House Court in an order passed on February 21, remanded Krishna Hari, Kundan Yadav, Ajay Kumar and Narasimha Yadav to five days’ police custody and rejecting their bail pleas.

The four were arrested in connection with a protest at the India AI Impact Summit held at Bharat Mandapam on February 20. According to the prosecution, several IYC activists entered the summit venue, and the accused removed their shirts to reveal T-shirts bearing slogans such as “PM is compromised” and messages criticising the India-US trade deal. They allegedly raised slogans against the Prime Minister and government policies within the summit premises.

The Delhi Police accused them of breaching security protocols at the high-profile international event and raising “anti-national” slogans. It further alleged that the accused obstructed public servants in the discharge of their duties and assaulted police personnel, causing injuries.

In a strongly worded order, as per reports, the magistrate observed that the accused had orchestrated a “premeditated intrusion” into the high-security precincts of Bharat Mandapam. The court noted that they donned provocative T-shirts, raised incendiary slogans and obstructed officials on duty.

Order Date: February 24, 2026