Delhi Court Grants Bail to Congress Workers in AI Summit Protest, Citing 'Symbolic Critique'

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A Delhi court has granted bail to nine Indian Youth Congress workers who were arrested for their shirtless protest at the AI summit. The court ruled that the protest was a form of 'symbolic political critique' and that pre-trial detention could be considered 'pre-emptive punishment'. The protest, which took place on February 20, saw the workers wearing white T-shirts with images of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump, as well as slogans like "India-US Trade Deal" and "PM is compromised". The court noted that the protest was peaceful and did not cause any significant damage or disruption. In contrast, the Delhi police had argued that the protesters attacked police personnel, resulting in injuries. However, the court did not agree with this assessment, citing the lack of evidence of property damage or delegate panic. The court's decision emphasizes the importance of 'bail as a norm and jail as an exception', upholding the fundamental principles of criminal jurisprudence. The Indian Youth Congress workers will now be released on bail, pending further investigation.