Shimla/New Delhi, Feb 28 (UNI) The legal and political aftershocks of the AI Summit protest continue to reverberate across states, as Delhi Police intensify action against Indian Youth Congress (IYC) leaders, including several from Himachal Pradesh.
Nigam Bhandari, who belongs to Kinnaur district and is the General Secretary and former president of the Himachal Pradesh Youth Congress, has secured anticipatory bail from Delhi.
Youth Congress leader Baldev Thakur stated that Nigam was one of those wanted by the Delhi police. Additional Sessions Judge Prashant Sharma granted interim protection to Bhandari until March 24 on a personal bond of Rs 25,000 with a surety of the same amount. The court directed him to cooperate with the investigation, appear before the Investigating Officer whenever summoned, keep his mobile phone active, not leave the country without prior permission, and refrain from contacting the complainant or tampering with evidence.
The case stems from a protest staged by Youth Congress workers during the AI Summit in Delhi. According to the prosecution, the demonstration disrupted security arrangements at the venue and created a situation that could have escalated into chaos.
The defence argued that Bhandari, a resident of Kinnaur district and currently IYC in-charge of Karnataka, was not present at the protest site and had no direct role in the incident. It was also submitted before the court that he had not been served any formal notice but apprehended arrest, prompting him to seek anticipatory bail.
Delhi Police, however, have maintained that Bhandari’s role is under investigation and that he is among those being examined in connection with the protest. Several IYC activists from Himachal Pradesh are also under the scanner. The action has triggered a wider legal battle, with Youth Congress leaders approaching courts for protection.
Political observers describe the situation as a revolving cycle of summons, legal petitions and interim relief. While Delhi Police continue their investigation, courts have, in multiple instances, granted interim protection to activists with directions to assist the probe. Youth Congress leaders claim they have been compelled to remain away from their native places, anticipating police action.
BJP leaders in Himachal Pradesh, including party chief Rajiv and leader of the Opposition Jai Ram Thakur, are hailing the action against IYC, terming the move politically motivated. As the investigation progresses, the courtroom has become the primary battleground—where interim protections, conditions of cooperation, and investigative claims are being weighed.
For now, the legal relief granted to Nigam Bhandari offers a temporary reprieve, but the broader confrontation between the Youth Congress and Delhi Police over the AI Summit protest remains far from settled.
