Youth Congress Protest Leads to Arrests Amid Political Tensions

Protest at India AI Impact Summit

Recently, during the India AI Impact Summit held in Delhi, members of the Indian Youth Congress staged a protest by appearing shirtless or in a semi-nude state. This demonstration took place around February 19-20, 2026, at Bharat Mandapam, where they allegedly shouted anti-government slogans and disrupted security protocols. In response, the Delhi police filed an FIR against the protesters for tarnishing the country's image, obscenity, and other charges.

Arrests in Himachal Pradesh

The situation escalated when a team from the Delhi police's Special Cell, led by ACP Rahul Vikram, traveled to the Rohru area of Shimla district in Himachal Pradesh to arrest three Youth Congress members (Saurabh Singh, Arbaaz Khan, and Siddharth Avdhoot) who were staying at a hotel/resort.

What Happened in Himachal?

• At approximately 5 AM, the Delhi police team arrived in plain clothes and arrested the three individuals.


• However, the Himachal Pradesh police intervened, claiming the action was taken without prior notice. They accused the Delhi police of kidnapping, trespassing, and stealing a DVR from the resort, subsequently filing an FIR and detaining 15-20 Delhi police officers.


• Attempts were made to seize a vehicle involved in the operation.


• This confrontation lasted nearly 18-25 hours, featuring high drama, including two medical examinations, court appearances, and a late-night visit to a judge's residence to secure a transit remand.


• Despite the Himachal police's efforts to halt the Delhi police, the three suspects were ultimately handed over to the Delhi police under court orders.


• ACP Rahul Vikram stated that their actions were lawful and that the Himachal police could not seize digital evidence or vehicles.

Who is ACP Rahul Vikram?

Rahul Vikram is an officer from the 2018 batch of DANIPS, originally from Unnao, Uttar Pradesh. He serves in the counter-terrorism unit of the Delhi police's Special Cell and has been involved in several significant cases, including:

• Uncovering an Al-Qaeda-linked module.


• Playing a role in the arrest of Sachin Thapan, the mastermind behind the Sidhu Moosewala murder, along with close gangsters of Lawrence Bishnoi and other wanted criminals.

Current Developments

• The three Youth Congress members have been brought back to Delhi and are currently held by the crime branch.


• So far, there have been over 11 arrests related to this case.


• This interstate clash between the Delhi and Himachal police has evolved into a political controversy, with Congress labeling it as political vendetta, while the Delhi police maintain it is a matter of legal enforcement.

The entire incident is now under scrutiny at both political and legal levels, with investigations ongoing.