Shirtless protest: Police allege Nepal-Gen Z pattern; 4 Youth Congress workers sent to 5-day custody

Four Indian Youth Congress workers arrested after disrupting the AI Impact Summit in New Delhi have been remanded to five days’ police custody. Delhi Police told the court the protest was part of a larger conspiracy, even linking it to Nepal’s recent political upheaval.

A detailed order from the court is awaited.

Custody granted as police cite conspiracy

Judicial Magistrate Ravi allowed Delhi Police’s plea for custodial interrogation on Saturday, a day after the protest at Bharat Mandapam.

The four arrested are Krishna Hari, national secretary of Youth Congress from Bihar; Kundan Yadav, IYC state secretary, Bihar; Ajay Kumar, IYC state president, Uttar Pradesh; and Narasimha Yadav from Telangana.

Police alleged the group shouted anti-national slogans and wore matching T-shirts carrying objectionable images of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The shirts also reportedly referred to the India–US trade deal and the “Epstein Files”.

Investigators told Patiala House Court that the protest may have been inspired by the violent Gen Z movement that recently brought down Nepal’s government. They argued the incident was aimed at tarnishing India’s global reputation during a high-profile international technology summit.

Officers said mobile phones must be recovered and examined. As the accused are from different states, custodial questioning was necessary, the prosecution argued.

Calling it a “serious” matter, police counsel said three personnel were injured when the group allegedly tried to block police action. They added that other suspects fled the venue.

The court also heard that slogans were raised in the presence of global technology leaders including Sam Altman and Sundar Pichai.

Defence calls protest peaceful, political row escalates

Lawyers for the accused rejected the allegations, maintaining the demonstration was peaceful. They said the men were exercising their democratic right to protest as members of a political party.

The defence claimed the activists — described as educated individuals with degrees — were assaulted and “beaten black and blue” by security personnel. The advocate argued that arresting them diminished the dignity of democracy, adding that if protests invite arrest, then MPs protesting in Parliament should also face action.

The incident has intensified political tensions. The BJP described the act as “anti-national” and “shameless”, holding counter-protests in New Delhi, Mumbai and Jammu. The Congress defended the demonstration as an expression of youth anger, criticising the summit as a public relations exercise and pointing to controversy over a local university presenting a Chinese robot as a domestic product.

The summit centred on AI governance and economic growth but concluded amid legal debate over democratic dissent.