New Delhi, February 24 Delhi Police has arrested Uday Bhanu Chib, president of the Indian Youth Congress, in connection with the protest staged by a group of youth wing members at the AI Impact Summit here last week, officials said on Tuesday.
Police have also increased security at key locations in the capital in anticipation of possible protests following Chib’s arrest, which brings the total number of people arrested in the case to eight.
Police had earlier arrested seven members of the Indian Youth Congress (IYC), including three from Gwalior in Madhya Pradesh, for the protest at Bharat Mandapam last Friday. They have been identified as Jitendra Yadav, Raj Gujjar, and Ajay Kumar.
In addition, Ritik alias Monty Shukla, general secretary of IYC in Uttar Pradesh, has been detained from Lalitpur in the state.
Senior officers said additional force has been deployed at sensitive points, particularly in New Delhi, a hotspot for political demonstrations.
Security has been tightened around the Tilak Marg police station, where Chib is currently being held, while barricades have been set up at strategic locations, with anti-riot teams on standby.
Quick Reaction Teams (QRTs) and additional companies of paramilitary forces have also been placed on alert to respond to any law and order situation, officials said.
Senior officers have directed field staff to ensure that traffic movement remains smooth.
“Our priority is to maintain public order and ensure that daily life is not disrupted. Preventive measures may be invoked if any group attempts to assemble without permission,” a senior officer said.
According to police, additional sections under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including 196 (promoting enmity between different groups and acts prejudicial to the maintenance of harmony) and 197 (assertions prejudicial to national integration), have been invoked in the FIR. Both carry a maximum jail term of three years.
Charges of criminal conspiracy, obstruction of a public servant in the discharge of their duty, disobedience to an order duly promulgated by a public servant, unlawful assembly, and common intention have also been added to the case.
On Friday, a group of IYC members staged a dramatic protest inside Hall No. 5 of the summit venue by removing their shirts to reveal T-shirts printed with slogans against the government and the India-US interim trade deal, before being taken away by security personnel.
Police said the accused had registered online and obtained QR codes to gain entry into the venue.
The incident triggered a political slugfest, with the BJP calling it a "shameful act to tarnish India's image on the global stage", and the IYC defending it as a "peaceful" demonstration aimed at safeguarding national interests.
A senior police officer said the role of each accused is being examined, and more arrests may follow.
"We are analyzing CCTV footage, digital evidence, and entry records to establish the sequence of events and identify others involved in planning and executing the protest," the officer said.
Another senior officer said investigators are probing a possible conspiracy angle and tracking the financial trail behind the protest, including funding for printing the slogans on the T-shirts.
“We are examining whether there was any coordinated effort and how the logistics were arranged,” the officer said.
