The Delhi High Court on Monday restored the bail granted to Indian Youth Congress (IYC) president Uday Bhanu Chib in connection with a protest during the India AI Impact Summit.
In a special sitting, Justice Saurabh Banerjee stayed a February 28 order passed by a sessions court that had suspended Chib’s bail. The high court observed that the lower court’s order lacked adequate reasoning and appeared to have been issued without proper application of mind.
“Where is the reasoning in this order? According to my little understanding, the order has to be stayed,” the bench remarked during the hearing.
The court further noted that some degree of judicial reasoning must be evident, especially when granting an interim stay on a bail order. Prima facie, the bench said it was not satisfied with the sessions court’s decision.
Background: Bail Granted, Then Suspended
Chib had moved the high court challenging the sessions court’s decision to stay the bail granted by a duty magistrate.
Earlier, Duty Magistrate Vanshika Mehta of Patiala House Courts granted bail to Chib after he was produced by the Delhi Police Crime Branch at around 3:30 am on Saturday. The magistrate observed that there was no purpose in keeping him in further custody.
However, later that evening, the sessions court stayed the bail order until further proceedings. It termed the magistrate’s decision a rare and exceptional circumstance that justified an ex parte stay. The matter has been listed for hearing on March 6, and notice was issued to Chib.
Protest at India AI Impact Summit
The case stems from a February 20 protest at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi during the India AI Impact Summit.
According to police, around 15–20 male members of the Indian Youth Congress entered the venue and removed their T-shirts, displaying images of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump, along with captions reading “PM is compromised” and “India-US Trade Deal.”
The protest reportedly lasted 10–15 minutes and took place during a global event attended by international delegates.
Charges and Police Investigation
The Delhi Police registered a First Information Report (FIR) under multiple provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. Charges include criminal conspiracy, causing hurt, assault on a public servant, unlawful assembly, disobedience of a public servant’s order, and violation of prohibitory orders.
Special Commissioner of Police (Crime Branch) Devesh Chandra Srivastava described the incident as a premeditated conspiracy and stated that investigators possess substantial evidence against the accused.
On February 24, a court had remanded Chib to four days of police custody for interrogation in connection with the protest.
Legal and Political Implications
The high court’s intervention underscores the importance of reasoned judicial orders, particularly in matters involving personal liberty. While the sessions court will continue to hear the police’s petition challenging the original bail order, the high court’s stay ensures that Chib’s bail remains in effect for now.
The case continues to draw political attention as it unfolds.
