New Delhi

Patiala House Court on Saturday rejected the bail applications of four Indian Youth Congress workers arrested in connection with a protest at the India AI Impact Summit and remanded them to police custody for five days.

The arrested accused have been identified as Krishna Hari, Kundan Yadav, Ajay Kumar and Narasimha Yadav.

Earlier, Delhi Police sought five days’ custody of the accused, stating that they were involved in a shirtless protest at Bharat Mandapam, during which anti-national slogans were allegedly raised in the presence of international leaders and dignitaries. Police said custodial interrogation was required to identify and arrest other accused persons who fled the spot.

Counsel for the accused argued that the protest was a peaceful political demonstration carried out as part of their democratic rights. It was submitted that no violence occurred, there was no video evidence of wrongdoing, and that the accused were educated office-bearers of a political party.

The arrests followed a protest by members of the Indian Youth Congress during the summit, where party workers removed their shirts and displayed slogans alleging that the Prime Minister was “compromised.” Police later detained the protesters.

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Meanwhile, Bharatiya Janata Party workers staged protests across several states, including Surat and Jammu, condemning the Youth Congress demonstration. In Delhi, members of the BJP Yuva Morcha also held protests over the incident.