Protests at India AI Impact Summit: Delhi court says Youth Congress' Uday Bhanu Chib entitled to FIR copy

A Delhi court on Tuesday said that Indian Youth Congress (IYC) chief Uday Bhanu Chib, accused in the Delhi Police's case over shirtless protests at the India AI Impact Summit, is entitled to a copy of the first information report (FIR).

Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC) Ravi of the Patiala House Courts directed the police to supply the FIR copy to Chib.

Notably, the Delhi Police had opposed the supply of a copy to the accused, arguing that it was sensitive in nature.

However, the Court said that mere categorisation by the police of a case as sensitive is not enough to deny the copy of the FIR. The nature of offences must be examined by the court, Judge Ravi added.

He said that the case against Congress workers stems from a symbolic protests "lacking hallmarks of terrorism/insurgency" and that denial of FIR copy would violate Articles 21 and 22 of the Indian Constitution.

"Thus, it does not qualify as sensitive; IO's [Investigating Officer's] claim is untenable. Denial of FIR copy violates statutory mandate u/s 230 BNSS and constitutional safeguards under Article 21 (fair procedure) and Article 22 (prompt information on arrest grounds). Applicant cannot prepare bail/defence without foundational document, causing irreparable prejudice. Supply poses no investigation risk, especially post-transfer to Crime Branch," the Court concluded.

Chib was remanded today to Delhi Police custody for four days.

Members of the IYC staged a shirtless protest inside the India AI Impact Summit held at Bharat Mandapam on February 20. 

Several activists entered the venue, some removing their shirts to reveal T-shirts with slogans like “PM is compromised” and criticisms of the India-US trade deal, before chanting against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and government policies. 

Police have so far made eight arrests in connection with the case and accused them of breaching security and raising "anti-national" slogans at the venue.

Chib had filed the plea through advocate Rishav Ranjan.

Senior Advocate Sanjoy Ghose along with Advocates Shubhash Gulati, Roopesh Singh Bhaudaria, Chitwan Godara, Sumit Rawat, Keshav Nagi and Mohit Garg appeared for Chib.

Additional Public Prosecutor (APP) Atul Shrivastava represented the Delhi Police.