New Delhi: Delhi Police arrested Indian Youth Congress President Uday Bhanu Chib in the early hours today in connection with the shirtless protest at Bharat Mandapam during the India AI Impact Summit 2026.
The IYC chief, after his arrest, has been taken to Patiala House Court.
The Indian Youth Congress on Friday staged a shirtless protest on the final day of the India AI Impact Summit and raised slogans against Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The IYC National President was taken into custody after several rounds of questioning over the protest. The interrogation lasted nearly 15 hours at the Tilak Marg police station. Allegedly, Chib didn’t cooperate during the questioning and attempted to mislead investigators, police sources told news agency. Officials claimed they have sufficient evidence against him.
Chib has been arrested under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including section 196 for promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, or language, which is a non-bailable offence.
The Congress has opposed the arrest of the IYC chief, calling it a ‘matter of shame.’ Party leader Pawan Khera said, “The dictator will put those in jail who show him the mirror. Have all the terrorists behind the Pulwama, Pahalgam attack, Red Fort blast been arrested…? You are not able to arrest those behind the terrorist attacks, but get scared if someone removes their shirt. This is the reality of the government…”
Senior Congress leader Bhupesh Baghel called the government dictatorial. Strongly condemning the arrest, Baghel said, “The dictatorial government is forgetting that in a democracy, young people raising their voice, asking questions, and protesting is not a crime — it is the strongest weapon of democracy.”
