Indian Youth Congress Leader Arrested for Protests at AI Impact Summit
Arrest of Uday Bhanu Chib
The Delhi Police have apprehended Uday Bhanu Chib, the national president of the Indian Youth Congress (IYC), in connection with a shirtless protest that occurred during the India AI Impact Summit. Authorities have labeled him as the primary orchestrator of the event.
Details of the Incident
On February 20, 2026, during the India AI Impact Summit held at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, IYC activists staged a shirtless protest. The demonstrators chanted slogans against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and displayed political messages concealed on their T-shirts. They gained entry to the summit by registering through a QR code. The protest took place in front of international representatives, causing significant disruption.
Police Action
So far, the Delhi Police have arrested eight individuals related to this incident, including Uday Bhanu Chib. According to police reports, Chib coordinated the gathering of activists from various states and devised the entire protest plan. He was taken into custody around 4:30 AM on February 24, 2026, after a lengthy interrogation lasting 15-20 hours at the Tilak Marg police station. Authorities have confiscated two of his mobile phones, asserting that Chib did not cooperate with the investigation and attempted to mislead the inquiry.
Court Appearance and Ruling
Upon being presented in Patiala House Court, the police requested a seven-day remand for Uday Bhanu Chib. After hearing arguments from both sides, the court ordered him to be held in police custody for four days. The defense attorney criticized the custody request as absurd, claiming that Chib was not present at the protest site, had cooperated with the investigation, and had no direct involvement in the shirtless demonstration. The lawyer characterized the incident as a peaceful protest in a democracy and accused the government of political vendetta.
Political Reactions
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge condemned the arrest, labeling it as an act of tyranny by the central government. Rahul Gandhi had previously referred to Uday Bhanu Chib as a 'lion'.