Court stays bail to Youth Congress chief Chib

A Delhi court on Saturday stayed the bail granted to Indian Youth Congress president Uday Bhanu Chib in connection with the February 20 protest at the India AI Impact Summit, hours after a magistrate court had granted him relief citing constitutional protections of liberty.

Additional Sessions Judge Amit Bansal passed the stay order after the Delhi Police challenged the earlier decision of Duty Magistrate Vanshika Mehta, and listed the matter for further hearing on March 6.

Chib was produced before the magistrate around 1 am at her official residence after completing four days of police custody. The police sought an extension of custody by three more days, arguing that further interrogation was necessary to trace two co-accused persons.

However, the magistrate rejected the police plea, observing that the right to life and liberty is the “soul of the Indian Constitution” and that deprivation of liberty must be supported by strong justification and material evidence. The court noted that the investigating officer failed to provide cogent reasons for seeking further custody.

In her handwritten order, the magistrate said, “Being guilty or not is a matter of trial,” and emphasised that custody must be justified at the present stage of investigation. The court also observed that Chib had strong roots in society and was not a flight risk, reiterating the legal principle that “bail is a rule and jail is an exception.”

The magistrate granted bail on furnishing a surety bond of Rs 50,000 and directed Chib to surrender his passport and electronic devices. The court also ordered verification of his documents and directed that he remain in judicial custody until Sunday morning.

Following the police appeal, the Sessions Court stayed the bail order, keeping Chib in custody until further proceedings.