AI Summit ‘Shirtless Protest’: Delhi Court sends 3 Youth Congress Activists to Police Custody

A Delhi Court remanded three Youth Congress activists to three days of police custody in connection with the “shirtless protest” during the AI Impact Summit 2026 in the national capital. The order, passed by Chief Judicial Magistrate Mridul Gupta at Patiala House Courts, allows investigators to question the trio amid a widening probe that has already led to multiple arrests.

The accused identified as Saurav, Arbaaz and Siddharth, were apprehended in Himachal Pradesh and brought to Delhi after transit proceedings. Prosecutors told the court that the three played distinct roles in orchestrating the protest inside the summit venue, including designing slogans printed on T-shirts, coordinating through WhatsApp groups, and entering the event premises. Police sought five days of custody, citing the need to probe planning and coordination.

The defence countered that the protest was an act of political expression, arguing there was no incriminating recovery and questioning whether the arrests infringed the constitutional guarantee of free speech. The case has drawn attention following an inter-state standoff between Delhi and Himachal Pradesh police during the arrests.

After hearing both sides, the magistrate granted three days of police custody, allowing further interrogation. During arguments, the defence described the arrests as “witch-hunting,” while prosecutors maintained custodial interrogation was necessary to uncover the conspiracy behind the protest. The court limited the custody period to three days against the five sought and directed compliance with procedural safeguards.