New Delhi

A Delhi court on Sunday released nine members of the Indian Youth Congress on bail in connection with a protest at an AI summit, observing that the demonstration amounted to a form of symbolic political expression and that continued custody would risk becoming an unjust pre-trial punishment.

Judicial Magistrate First Class Ravi, while allowing the bail applications, held that the incident—though disruptive—did not warrant prolonged detention. The accused include Krishna Hari, Narshimha Yadav, Kundan Kumar Yadav, Ajay Kumar Singh, Jitendra Singh Yadav, Raja Gurjar, Ajay Kumar Vimal alias Bantu, Saurabh Singh and Arbaz Khan.

In his order, the magistrate noted that the protest involved the display of T-shirts bearing political imagery and the raising of non-provocative slogans during a public event. The court said there was no material to suggest damage to property, panic among delegates or disorderly conduct beyond a brief disruption, adding that the protesters exited the venue in an orderly manner under escort.

The court cautioned that keeping the accused in custody without compelling investigative needs would amount to an impermissible advance punishment before conviction, which runs contrary to established principles of criminal law. Liberty, the order emphasised, is the rule, while incarceration must remain a carefully limited exception.

Delhi Police opposed the bail pleas, arguing that while the Constitution protects peaceful protest, it also places reasonable restrictions on such activities. Prosecutors claimed the IYC members raised slogans criticising an alleged India–US trade deal in front of international media and that, when stopped, they clashed with police personnel, causing injuries that were supported by medical records.

According to the police, the protesters entered the venue on February 20 wearing or carrying white T-shirts printed with images of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump, along with slogans referring to the trade deal and other political allegations. A brief scuffle reportedly followed with security and police staff stationed at the site.

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After considering submissions from both sides, the court concluded that bail was justified and ordered the release of all nine accused on appropriate conditions.