Delhi Court Grants Police Custody of Youth Congress President in AI Summit Protest Case

Court Decision on Uday Bhanu Chhib's Custody

On Tuesday, the Patiala House Court ordered the Delhi police to take Uday Bhanu Chhib, the president of the Indian Youth Congress, into custody for four days in connection with the AI summit protest case. Authorities indicated that Chhib was a key figure behind the protests organized by four co-accused individuals currently in police custody. This case is linked to issues of national security, sovereignty, and the integrity of the nation. Initially, the police had requested a seven-day custody for the IYC president. After hearing arguments from both the additional public prosecutor and Chhib's defense attorney, the first-class judicial magistrate approved the four-day custody.

In light of the discussions, the investigating officer's request was partially granted. Uday Bhanu Chhib will remain in police custody until February 28, 2026, inclusive of both days. Upon the conclusion of this period, the investigating officer is required to present Chhib before the relevant court or duty magistrate along with a detailed remand report, as ordered by Jammu and Kashmir Police Commissioner Ravi.

The court noted that considering the facts of the case, the nature of the alleged crimes, and the request for police custody, it would be appropriate to explicitly record the accused's right to meet with his lawyer during the interrogation without hindering the legitimate needs of the investigation. The Delhi police asserted that Chhib was the mastermind behind the conspiracy. Assistant Police Officer Atul Srivastava stated that Chhib had provided logistical support to the protesters and needed to be questioned about identifying other accused individuals from Jammu, Amethi, and other locations.

Senior advocates Sanjay Ghosh, Subhash Gulati, and Rupesh Singh Bhadauria represented the IYC president. Opposing the remand petition, Ghosh argued that Chhib was not a fugitive and was still in Delhi. He further criticized the police for making a mockery of the situation by seizing T-shirts. Ghosh expressed that such actions bring shame to the country, emphasizing that the accused had attended the protest unarmed, and labeling the demonstration as a riot was entirely incorrect.