New Delhi, 07 March (H.S.): Delhi's Patiala House Court has ordered the release from jail of Siddharth Awadhoot, an Indian Youth Congress activist arrested in connection with the semi-nude protest during the AI Summit.The court issued the directive after verifying the bail bond presented on Awadhoot's behalf; he had been apprehended from Himachal Pradesh. Bail had been approved on March 5, with the condition of a Rs 50,000 surety bond.

During proceedings, Awadhoot's lawyer Nandita Rao contended that his involvement differed from other co-accused, stressing that the investigation against him was complete, he posed no flight risk, and held deep societal ties. Delhi Police opposed the application, with counsel Atul Srivastava arguing prior rejections and that he could not base his plea on others' bails; police further alleged Awadhoot's pivotal role in designing and printing the protesters' T-shirts.

On March 2, a Patiala House magistrate court had granted bail to nine Youth Congress workers; police challenged this in sessions court, prompting notices. Youth Congress president Uday Bhanu Chib secured magistrate bail on February 28, stayed that day by sessions court but later cleared by the Delhi High Court on March 2, while general secretary Nigam Bhandari holds interim bail until March 24.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar