Shirtless Protest: Delhi Court Sends 3 More Youth Congress Workers to 3 Days Police Custody
Delhi court remands three Youth Congress workers to police custody in connection with protest at India AI Impact Summit 2026
A Delhi court on Thursday remanded three Youth Congress workers to police custody for three days in connection with the recent protest staged during the India AI Impact Summit 2026 at Bharat Mandapam.
Chief Judicial Magistrate Mridul Gupta of Patiala House Court passed the order against the accused: Siddharth, Saurabh and Arbaaz, who were produced before the court following their arrest by Delhi Police from Himachal Pradesh a day earlier.
The case arises out of a protest by members of the Indian Youth Congress (IYC) inside the India AI Impact Summit held on February 20. According to the prosecution, several activists entered the venue, with some removing their shirts to reveal T-shirts carrying slogans critical of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the India–US trade deal. Slogans were also raised inside the summit premises.
Seeking police custody, Delhi Police argued that the accused were aware that their colleagues had already been arrested but were evading arrest. “They were well aware that their colleagues had been arrested. They were hiding. International media was there, international delegates were there,” it was submitted before the Magistrate.
The defence counsel opposed the remand, contending that the allegations did not disclose any grave offence. “No hateful speech was made, no police official was assaulted. None of the sections are made out. It is not a heinous offence. No 302 IPC or 376 IPC. It is the political targeting of the opposition,” counsel argued.
The court, however, allowed the plea for custodial interrogation and remanded the three accused to police custody for three days.
Earlier, at least eight persons were arrested in connection with the protest, including Indian Youth Congress National President Udai Bhanu Chib.
Notably, on February 24, the court had granted four days’ police custody of Indian Youth Congress (IYC) president Udai Bhanu Chib in connection with the same protest. 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 had 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.
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 26, 2026