New Delhi, 26 February (H.S.): Patiala House Court has reserved its verdict on the anticipatory bail plea of Youth Congress General Secretary Nigam Bhandari in the shirtless protest case at Bharat Mandapam during the AI Summit on February 20. Additional Sessions Judge Prashant Sharma ordered that the decision on the anticipatory bail application will be delivered on February 27.

Earlier in this case, on February 24, the court remanded Youth Congress National President Uday Bhanu Chib to four days of judicial custody, directing Delhi Police to furnish him with a copy of the FIR. On February 25, police custody for four arrested Youth Congress workers—Krishna Hari, Kundan Yadav, Ajay Kumar, and Narsimha Yadav—was extended by another four days; they were detained during the demonstration at Bharat Mandapam on the afternoon of February 20.

Delhi Police reports that a scuffle with officers preceded the arrests, injuring three policemen. The protesters had initially plotted to infiltrate the AI Summit venue with black umbrellas and printed stickers but, fearing detection, switched tactics: they donned T-shirts bearing printed messages, concealed beneath sweaters and jackets. Upon reaching Hall Number 5 at Bharat Mandapam, they stripped off the T-shirts and waved them aloft.

Investigators are probing the conspiracy's orchestration, including the origin of the printed stickers. Youth Congress maintains its activists were protesting to accuse Prime Minister Narendra Modi of tarnishing India's image at the AI Summit.

Meanwhile, Delhi Police is transporting three Youth Congress workers from Himachal Pradesh on transit remand and will seek their custody upon presenting them in Patiala House Court.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar