A Delhi court on Wednesday granted interim protection from arrest to Umesh Chandra Padala, who designed the t-shirts used by protestors at the recent India AI Impact Summit. [State of Delhi v. Umesh Chandra Padala & Anr.]

Additional Sessions Judge Amit Bansal of the Patiala House Courts passed the order while hearing Padala’s anticipatory bail plea.

A detailed copy of the order is awaited.

Padala has been accused by the investigating authorities of designing the t-shirt that was allegedly used during the protest and of assisting the alleged main conspirator in the incident.

After hearing submissions from both the prosecution and the defence, the Court directed Padala to cooperate with the investigation and join the probe whenever required by the investigating agency.

The Court further ordered that if the State Crime Branch intends to arrest him, it must issue a written notice to Padala at least seven days in advance.

Members of the Indian Youth Congress (IYC) had staged a protest inside the India AI Impact Summit at Bharat Mandapam on February 20, 2026.

During the demonstration, a group of activists entered the venue and some removed their shirts to display T-shirts carrying slogans such as “PM is compromised” along with messages critical of the India–US trade deal.

The protesters also raised slogans against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and certain government policies.

Police have so far arrested 14 individuals in connection with the incident, accusing them of breaching security at the venue and raising allegedly “anti-national” slogans.

Advocates Saimon Farooqui and Mohd Azam Khan appeared for Padala.