Delhi Court Grants Interim Bail to Youth Congress Leader in AI Summit Protest Case
A Delhi court on Friday granted interim bail to Indian Youth Congress general secretary Nigam Bhandhari until March 24 in connection with the AI summit protest case. The Congress's youth wing worker had sought anticipatory bail, which was granted by the court with specific conditions.
Court Conditions and Investigation Cooperation
The court has directed Bhandhari to fully cooperate with the ongoing investigation into the protest incident. According to news agency ANI reports, the judicial order emphasizes that the accused must remain available for questioning and provide any necessary assistance to investigative authorities as the case progresses.
Details of the AI Summit Protest Incident
The controversial protest took place on February 20 inside Exhibition Hall number five at Bharat Mandapam during the Artificial Intelligence Summit. Approximately 10 Indian Youth Congress workers participated in what police describe as a carefully orchestrated demonstration.
The protest methodology involved:
- Completing mandatory online registration for event access
- Gaining entry using legitimate QR codes
- Briefly removing outer clothing to reveal T-shirts with political messages
Content of Protest Messages and Police Allegations
The revealed T-shirts bore images of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and former US President Donald Trump, along with slogans including "India-US Trade Deal" and "PM is compromised." Security footage from the event clearly shows protesters removing their outer layers to display these messages.
Police investigators claim the protest was planned with "common intention" and allege that Uday Bhanu Chib, the IYC chief, served as the primary orchestrator of the demonstration. The incident reportedly involved minor altercations with security personnel and temporary obstruction of the event proceedings.
Expanding Investigation and Previous Arrests
This case has seen multiple arrests prior to Bhandhari's court appearance. Earlier detainees in the investigation include Jitendra Yadav, Raja Gujar, and Vimal Ajay Kumar, bringing the total number of individuals detained in connection with the protest to eight persons.
The police investigation continues to examine the planning and execution of the protest, with particular focus on how the demonstrators managed to bypass initial security screenings while carrying what authorities describe as pre-planned protest materials.
