Delhi Court Grants Bail to 9 IYC Workers in AI Summit Protest

A Delhi court granted bail to nine Indian Youth Congress workers tied to a shirtless protest at an AI summit, ruling that the action amounted to symbolic political critique conducted during a public event. The judge emphasized that pre-trial detention would be a profound aberration that undermines the core principle of liberty unless narrowly warranted by law. Bail was deemed the norm, not the exception.

The accused, including Krishna Hari, Narshimha Yadav, Kundan Kumar Yadav, Ajay Kumar Singh, Jitendra Singh Yadav, Raja Gurjar, Ajay Kumar Vimal alias Bantu, Saurabh Singh and Arbaz Khan, were arrested after entering the AI summit venue on February 20. They wore or held white T-shirts featuring images of the Prime Minister and the US President, while reportedly raising slogans that labeled the India-US trade deal as a compromise. Police said there were injuries to officers during the incident and cited medical evidence; however, the court did not find this sufficient to override the broader justification for bail.

The court described the protest as a form of peaceful, temporary assembly with non-inciteful messaging and a leadership imagery focus, noting that the incident did not show evidence of property defacement or panic, and that the exit from the venue occurred in an orderly manner with escorts. In its reasoning, the court underscored the constitutional right to peaceful protest while balancing it against public safety considerations, ultimately deciding that the accused should be released on bail while the case proceeds.

The decision marks a notable stance on how symbolic political critique at high-profile events is treated under criminal law, reinforcing that liberty remains the governing norm and that incarceration should be the exception rather than the rule when protests stay within lawful bounds.

#DelhiNews #IYC #AIsummitProtest