Delhi Court Grants Four-Day Police Custody to Youth Congress President in AI Summit Protest Case
A Delhi court has sent Youth Congress president Uday Bhanu Chib to police custody for four days, following his arrest on Monday night. Police had accused him of being the "mastermind" behind a shirtless protest that occurred at the India AI Impact Summit.
Court Rejects Police Request for Longer Custody
The police had requested seven days of custody to question Chib, but Judicial Magistrate Ravi deemed this "excessive" and instead granted custody until February 28. In a significant ruling, the court stated that "phrases such as 'sovereignty of the State' or 'national security' cannot, by themselves, justify prolonged police custody." The court emphasized that "a shorter period of police custody" would be sufficient for the investigation while simultaneously protecting the accused man's constitutional rights.
Legal Safeguards and FIR Copy Order
The judge further clarified that Chib can meet with his legal counsel during questioning, as permitted under the law, provided it does not interfere with the ongoing investigation. In a separate order addressing the accused's application for a copy of the First Information Report (FIR), Judge Ravi allowed the plea. The court observed that the "applicant cannot prepare a defense without this foundational document, which would cause irreparable prejudice."
The court held that withholding the FIR copy violated Section 230 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) and the safeguards under Article 21 of the Constitution. It added that providing a copy would not harm the investigation, especially now that the case has been transferred to the Crime Branch. The investigating officer had previously withheld the FIR copy, citing the matter as sensitive, a justification the court found untenable.
Police Allegations and Court's Observations
According to Delhi Police, Chib was the "main conspirator and mastermind" behind the February 20 protest at Bharat Mandapam. Authorities allege that anti-national slogans were raised during the protest, and an attempt was made to create a riot-like situation. Police claimed that, in conspiracy with individuals including Shree Krishna Hari, Kundan Yadav, Narsimha Yadav, and Ajay Kumar Yadav, Chib obstructed and assaulted police officials on duty.
Public Prosecutor Atul Srivastav argued that although Chib was not physically present at the protest site, he was in constant communication and monitoring developments. Srivastav submitted that custodial interrogation was necessary to unravel the conspiracy, analyze digital evidence, trace funding for the protest, T-shirts, and logistics, and recover remaining material.
While Chib's counsel opposed these claims, the court disagreed. Judge Ravi stated, "The material placed so far, prima facie indicates that the role attributed to the present accused is that of a person who operated from behind the scenes by giving directions and monitoring the protest." The court further observed that "at the stage of remand, such material cannot be discarded merely on the ground that the accused was not physically present at the place of occurrence," adding that conspiracy and abetment can be executed even from a distance.
Background of the Protest Incident
At the AI Impact Summit on February 20, several men allegedly entered the venue wearing T-shirts bearing images of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and former US President Donald Trump, along with slogans against the government and the India-US trade deal. The protest has sparked significant legal and political attention, with this court ruling highlighting the balance between investigative needs and individual rights.
