Delhi–Shimla Police face-off ends after court grants transit remand in AI Summit protest case
A tense 24-hour standoff between the Delhi Police and the Himachal Pradesh Police ended early Thursday after a Shimla court granted transit remand to three Youth Congress workers.
The dispute began after Delhi Police arrested three Indian Youth Congress members for their role in a “shirtless protest” at the India AI Impact Summit held in New Delhi last week. The arrested men — Saurabh Singh from Uttar Pradesh, Arbaaz Khan from Uttar Pradesh, and Siddharth Avdhoot from Madhya Pradesh — allegedly staged a slogan-based protest inside the summit venue.
Protest at AI Summit Triggered Action
Last Friday, the three men entered the AI Impact Summit exhibition hall. They carried T-shirts printed with slogans targeting the central government and the India–US trade deal. Security staff quickly intervened and escorted them out of the venue.
Soon after, Delhi Police launched an investigation. Officers tracked the accused to Rohru in Shimla district, Himachal Pradesh.
Early Morning Arrest Sparks Confrontation
On Wednesday around 5:30 am, a Delhi Police team reached Rohru and detained the three accused from a resort in Chirgaon. The team then began its return journey to Delhi with the men in custody.
However, Himachal Pradesh Police intercepted the convoy at Dharampur in Solan district after receiving information about the arrests. State officers questioned the Delhi team for not coordinating with local authorities before conducting the operation. They also raised objections over the absence of prior transit remand approval.
As tensions rose, Himachal officers stopped the vehicles and brought both the accused and Delhi Police personnel to Shimla for legal review. Officials alleged that Delhi Police did not inform them or seek cooperation before carrying out the arrests.
FIR and Legal Battle Intensify
Meanwhile, Shimla Police registered a case at Chirgaon police station against members of the Delhi Police team. Authorities invoked sections related to unlawful assembly, trespass, wrongful confinement, kidnapping, and theft.
A senior Himachal police official stated that around 15 to 20 plainclothes personnel arrived in vehicles and forcibly took away three individuals staying at a local resort. The official stressed that state police received no prior intimation about the operation.
During the day, the Station House Officer of Baluganj police station filed a private complaint in court. The legal tug of war escalated as both sides defended their actions.
Vehicles Stopped, Arguments Follow
Later in the evening, when Delhi Police again attempted to leave Shimla with the accused, state authorities stopped their vehicles at a barrier on the outskirts of the city. Heated arguments broke out between officers of both forces.
Himachal Police held the vehicles for several hours. Officers from Delhi claimed that state authorities detained them without justification and attempted to seize a government vehicle carrying case property.
Delhi Police ACP Rahul Vikram said his team provided the necessary seizure memo and insisted that the vehicle could not be confiscated under law.
Court Grants Transit Remand
Around 1 am, authorities produced the three accused before ACJM-II Ekansh Kapil in Shimla. The court heard Delhi Police’s plea for transit remand. After reviewing submissions, the magistrate granted permission for the accused to be taken to Delhi.
Following the order, Himachal authorities released the vehicles and personnel. At approximately 5:55 am on Thursday, the Delhi Police team left Shimla with the three accused.
Next Legal Steps
Delhi Police will now present the accused before a local magistrate in Delhi as part of the ongoing investigation into the AI Summit protest.
The episode highlights growing friction over inter-state arrest procedures. However, the late-night court order brought the dramatic confrontation to a close.
