Delhi Court Condemns Youth Congress Protest at AI Summit as 'Blatant Assault on Public Order'
A Delhi court on Saturday delivered a scathing rebuke of a protest staged by four Indian Youth Congress (IYC) workers during the AI Impact Summit-2026, labeling it a "blatant assault on public order" that posed a significant threat to India's diplomatic standing on the global stage. Judicial magistrate Ravi authorized five days of police custody for the accused individuals to facilitate thorough questioning, citing substantial risks of them absconding and potential connections to external conspiracies, as reported by PTI.
Details of the Court Order and Allegations
The court order, accessed by PTI, stated that the accused persons are alleged to have orchestrated a premeditated intrusion into the high-security precincts of Bharat Mandapam during the AI Summit 2026. This premier international conclave was hosting a distinguished assembly of global delegates, dignitaries, tech leaders, policymakers, and entrepreneurs from around the world.
Magistrate Ravi noted that the protestors allegedly engaged in highly provocative actions. They donned T-shirts bearing offensive slogans such as 'India US Trade Deal Compromised' and featured images of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump. The protestors vociferously raised incendiary chants, obstructed public servants in the execution of their duties, and perpetrated physical assaults that caused grievous injuries to police personnel. These injuries were substantiated by medico-legal cases (MLCs) on official record.
Court's Strong Condemnation of the Protest
"Such conduct palpably transcends the ambit of legitimate dissent, metamorphosing into a blatant assault on public order," the magistrate asserted in the order. "It imperils not merely the event's sanctity but also the Republic's diplomatic image before foreign stakeholders, rendering it wholly unprotected by constitutional safeguards."
The court further elaborated that early investigation findings suggested multiple associates of the accused could be absconding. There were concerns about potential tampering with digital footprints, financial trails, and disclosures from co-accused individuals, which necessitated a meticulous and uninterrupted investigative process.
Legal Basis for Police Custody and Supreme Court Reference
In its decision, the court referenced a landmark 1980 Supreme Court verdict, emphasizing that "bail discretion must safeguard investigation integrity, particularly pre-chargesheet." This legal precedent underscored the importance of protecting the investigative process from any potential interference or obstruction.
Magistrate Ravi allowed police custody under specific legal provisions, including BNS Sections 121, which pertains to voluntarily causing hurt to deter a public servant from his duty, and Section 61(2), which addresses criminal conspiracy. These are serious offences that carry punishments exceeding three years of imprisonment, highlighting the gravity with which the court viewed the incident.
Background of the Protest and Arrests
The protest occurred during the high-profile AI Impact Summit-2026 at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi. The accused individuals displayed T-shirts featuring critical slogans against the government and the India-US trade deal, alongside the aforementioned images of political leaders. Their actions escalated into a physical scuffle with security personnel, leading to their arrest on Friday for staging what was described as a 'shirtless protest' inside the exhibition hall.
The four accused are Krishna Hari, national secretary of the Youth Congress from Bihar; Kundan Yadav, state secretary of Bihar; Ajay Kumar, state president of Uttar Pradesh; and Narasimha Yadav from Telangana. Their detention and the court's subsequent ruling have drawn significant attention to the boundaries of protest and the maintenance of public order during international events of diplomatic importance.
