New Delhi, March 2 (NationPress) The Delhi High Court has granted a stay on a sessions court's ruling that had suspended the bail for Uday Bhanu Chib, the President of the Indian Youth Congress (IYC). This decision comes in light of Chib's involvement in a shirtless protest during the India AI Impact Summit at Bharat Mandapam, paving the way for his potential release from custody.

Justice Saurabh Banerjee, presiding over the case, issued a notice to the Delhi Police and expressed his initial dissatisfaction with the sessions court's decision, emphasizing that any ruling impacting an individual's personal freedom must demonstrate thorough consideration.

“I am not in agreement with the lower court's decision. I will issue a notice and deliberate further, but for now, the order must be stayed,” stated Justice Banerjee.

Chib's counsel, senior advocate Siddharth Luthra, argued that the sessions court's suspension of the magistrate's bail order was made without informing Chib or providing him with a copy of the order.

Luthra pointed out that the magistrate had three choices: to prolong police custody, to send the accused to judicial custody, or to grant bail, which was the option chosen after denying extended police custody.

The senior lawyer contended that the sessions court lacked the authority to intervene in such decisions.

In defense of the Delhi Police, Additional Solicitor General D.P. Singh asserted that the investigation remains active and claimed that the order being contested was fundamentally a remand order, with the bail being a secondary consideration.

He argued that the sessions court's interference was warranted, given that the magistrate's ruling was allegedly unlawful.

Nonetheless, Justice Banerjee was unconvinced, stating, “Let’s not delve into that. I clearly express my dissatisfaction with your arguments. The order needs to be stayed as there appears to be a lack of mindfulness.”

The case is scheduled for further proceedings on March 6.

This development follows a dramatic midnight session at the Patiala House Court, where a duty magistrate had granted Chib bail, asserting that no individual should be deprived of their personal liberty based on mere assumptions.

However, shortly after, a sessions court suspended the bail until March 6, following a request from the Delhi Police.

Chib's arrest is linked to the shirtless protest that took place on February 20 at Bharat Mandapam during the India AI Impact Summit and Expo 2026.

He has been accused of being the “primary conspirator” behind orchestrating an unlawful assembly, during which provocative slogans were allegedly shouted, and there was an attempt to incite a riotous atmosphere.

On February 24, the Patiala House Court had placed Chib in four days of police custody after the investigative body requested seven days, alleging he was the mastermind behind the protest.

The police also claimed that he, along with others, obstructed law enforcement officials and did not cooperate during interrogations.

The protest has stirred a political controversy, with the BJP condemning it as an effort to damage India's international reputation, while the Congress party defended it as a legitimate expression of youthful dissent.