New Delhi: Indian Youth Congress (IYC) National President Uday Bhanu Chib was granted bail by a Duty Magistrate on Saturday in connection with the February 20 protest at Bharat Mandapam during the AI Impact Summit.
Advocate Sulaiman Mohammad Khan said the Delhi Police Crime Branch had sought a seven-day extension of Chib’s police custody. The agency also filed two separate applications seeking five-day and two-day remand for two other accused in the case.
According to Khan, the court granted bail to Chib after observing that the Crime Branch failed to provide adequate justification for extending his police custody. “The Duty Magistrate was pleased enough to grant bail to Uday Bhanu Chib and has explained in the bail order that the Police Crime Branch has not been able to explain the reasons for seeking extension of PC remand,” he said.
The court imposed certain conditions while granting bail. Chib has been directed to surrender his passport and electronic gadgets before the court and furnish one surety of ₹50,000.
Advocate Roopesh Singh Bhadauria said Chib had already been in police custody for four days prior to the hearing. He claimed the defence team was informed around midnight that Chib would be produced before the Duty Magistrate at 6 am, but later received a call stating that he would be presented at 1 am. The hearing eventually began at 1:30 am, he said.
Earlier this week, the Crime Branch had stated that eight persons, including Chib, were arrested in connection with the alleged “shirtless protest” held at Bharat Mandapam in the national capital during the summit.