A Delhi court has granted bail to nine members of the Indian Youth Congress who were arrested after staging a protest during the India AI Impact Summit in the national capital. The court observed that the demonstration amounted to an expression of political dissent and did not warrant prolonged custody at this stage.
The protest took place inside the summit venue, where participants displayed slogans critical of the Union government. Delhi Police alleged that the group had deliberately disrupted the high-profile event and registered cases against them on charges related to unlawful assembly and disturbance.
While considering the bail applications, the court underscored that dissent is a legitimate feature of a democratic system. It held that incarceration cannot be used as a punitive measure in the absence of compelling reasons. The judge noted that the investigation could proceed without keeping the accused in custody and imposed standard conditions, including furnishing surety bonds and cooperating with the probe.
Among those granted relief was IYC national president Uday Bhanu Chib. The court clarified that the order does not comment on the merits of the allegations and that the case will continue in accordance with law.
The matter remains pending as authorities carry forward the investigation.