The ‘Bharat Mandapam’ Bust: Why the IYC Chief is Behind Bars Tonight

Townhall Times, New Delhi

Reporter: Bhavika Kalra

By: Political Desk | New Delhi

Tuesday, February 24, 2026

The Delhi Police didn’t just add charges today; they flipped the script from a “minor disturbance” to a “deep-rooted conspiracy.” Uday Bhanu Chib, the National President of the Indian Youth Congress (IYC), was remanded to four days of police custody this afternoon.

Here is the unfiltered, ground-level breakdown of the case that has turned the capital into a fortress tonight.

1. The ‘Mastermind’ Tag: Beyond the Shirts

While the visual of shirtless protesters at the India AI Impact Summit on Feb 20 went viral, the police investigation has moved into the “backroom.”

The Allegation: Special CP (Crime) Devesh Chandra Srivastva labeled Chib the “main conspirator.” Police claim the protest wasn’t a spontaneous outburst but a planned operation involving QR code manipulation and “anti-national” messaging.
The Conspiracy: The Crime Branch is now investigating “funding trails”—specifically who paid for the high-quality T-shirts hidden under the protesters’ sweaters and who coordinated the synchronized “strip-down” inside Hall No. 5.

2. The Legal Hammer: BNS 2026 Escalation

The Delhi Police have invoked some of the heaviest sections of the new criminal code (Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita).

Section 191(1) & 192 (Rioting): Police claim the protesters didn’t just shout; they manhandled security personnel and tried to “incite a riot-like situation” in a venue filled with international delegates.
Section 197 (Prejudicial to National Integration): This is the serious one. By staging this during a global summit, the police argue the IYC purposefully tried to “tarnish India’s global image,” which they’ve framed as a threat to national interest.
The Count: 8 people are currently arrested, with raids ongoing in Madhya Pradesh, UP, and Himachal Pradesh to find the remaining “co-conspirators.”

Political War Room: The 2026 Reaction

Side	The Stance	The Quote
Congress	“Dictatorial Cowardice”	Rahul Gandhi: “Proud of my Babbar Sher comrades… holding a mirror to power is not a crime.”
BJP	“Global Embarrassment”	BJP Spokespersons: “Rahul Gandhi is the mastermind of this anarchic incident… trying to sabotage India’s trade deals.”
Delhi Police	“Security Breach”	Official Statement: “A premeditated attempt to breach the security cordon in the presence of foreign dignitaries.”

[Image: Security barricades outside Patiala House Court where Uday Bhanu Chib was produced this afternoon.]

3. The Nepal-Bangladesh Connection?

In a move that has raised eyebrows in legal circles, the Delhi Police told the court that the protest “took inspiration from Gen-Z agitations in Nepal and Bangladesh.” They are framing the IYC’s tactics as a new form of “hooliganism” designed to go viral and destabilize the government’s international standing.

The Status Right Now

As of 7:30 PM tonight, security has been ramped up at Tilak Marg Police Station and the IYC headquarters. The Crime Branch’s Inter-State Cell has taken over the probe. The “shirtless protest” has officially evolved from a 5-minute stunt into a month-long legal battle for the Congress youth wing.