Delhi Court Issues Notice to Police on Youth Congress Leader's Bail Plea
In a significant legal development, the Patiala House Court has issued a notice to the Delhi police concerning the anticipatory bail plea of Manish Sharma, a leader of the Youth Congress, linked to the AI summit protest. The court has scheduled a hearing for the applications on Monday, while other accused have already secured bail. The police have raised concerns about Sharma's alleged absconding status. This case highlights ongoing tensions surrounding protests related to the AI summit and the legal ramifications for those involved.
Mar 7, 2026, 17:26 IST
Court Proceedings on Bail Application
The Patiala House Court has issued a notice to the Delhi police regarding the anticipatory bail plea filed by Manish Sharma, a member of the Youth Congress, in connection with the AI summit protest case. Sharma has sought both anticipatory and interim bail. Additional Sessions Judge (ASJ) Prashant Sharma directed the police to respond to the notice. However, the court declined to grant any immediate interim bail without hearing the police's arguments.
Court to Hear Applications on Monday
The court is scheduled to hear the applications on Monday. Manish Sharma serves as the national in-charge of the Indian National Congress (INC) Youth Wing. He was represented by senior advocates Sanjay Ghosh, Rupesh Singh Bhadauria, and Chitwan Godara. It was noted that nine other accused present at the protest site have already been granted bail, including Uday Bhanu Chib, the president of the Indian Youth Congress.
Advocate Ghosh also mentioned that the court had previously granted interim anticipatory bail to another accused, and there is no incriminating evidence against Manish Sharma. Earlier, the Delhi police opposed the bail pleas of other accused, claiming that Sharma and Vishwajit are absconding and need to be arrested. The police have issued a notice to Sharma to cooperate with the investigation.
Release Order for Another Accused
Meanwhile, on Saturday, the Patiala House Court ordered the release of Siddharth Avdhoot, another accused in the AI Impact Summit protest case. He was arrested from a resort in Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, and was granted bail on March 5. The Delhi police allege that he played a significant role in designing and printing the T-shirts worn by the protesters during the AI Impact Summit.