New Delhi (Gurpreet Singh): The Delhi Police have formally arrested Uday Bhanu Chib, National President of the Indian Youth Congress (IYC), in connection with what they describe as a “premeditated” attempt to disrupt the high-profile India AI Impact Summit 2026. Chib was taken into custody on Tuesday, February 24, following an intensive interrogation session lasting nearly 20 hours at the Tilak Marg police station.
The investigation, now transferred to the Crime Branch Inter-State Cell, centers on a “shirtless protest” staged by a group of Youth Congress members inside the summit venue at Bharat Mandapam last Friday.
Details of the Incident and Arrests
According to police statements and court submissions, a group of eight to eleven IYC members gained entry to the venue using QR-coded tickets obtained through legitimate online registration.
- The Protest: Once inside Hall Number 5, the members reportedly removed their jackets and shirts to reveal T-shirts printed with slogans such as “PM is Compromised” and chanted anti-government slogans.
- Total Arrests: With Chib’s arrest, a total of eight individuals have now been apprehended. This includes four activists arrested on the day of the protest and three others—Jitendra Singh Yadav, Ajay Kumar, and Raja Gujar—who were recently picked up from Gwalior and Bhind in Madhya Pradesh.
- Alleged Conspiracy: Special Commissioner of Police (PMMC) Devesh Srivastva stated that the protest was not spontaneous but a planned breach of the security cordon. Police allege that Chib provided the logistical support and was a main conspirator behind the act, which they claim resulted in injuries to on-duty personnel during the struggle to restrain the protesters.
Legal Proceedings and BNS Sections
An FIR has been registered under several stringent sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). As the probe progressed, authorities added sections related to promoting enmity and conspiracy.
Political Reaction
The arrest has ignited a sharp political row. Senior Congress leader Bhupesh Baghel condemned the action as “dictatorial,” arguing that asking questions and peaceful protest are fundamental democratic rights. In contrast, the BJP accused the Congress of “treason” and “insulting the nation” on a global stage, given that the summit hosted international dignitaries and technology leaders to discuss AI governance.
Chib was produced before the Patiala House Court, where the police have sought extended custody to investigate a larger “multi-state” conspiracy and trace potential funding sources for the protest materials.
