AI Summit Protest Case: Court Denies IYC President's Plea to Release Passport
Patiala House Court denies IYC President Udai Bhanu Chib's plea to retrieve his passport in the AI Summit Protest case, upholding bail conditions.
In a significant legal setback for the Indian Youth Congress (IYC) President, the Patiala House Court in Delhi has refused to release the passport of Udai Bhanu Chib. Chib, who is currently on regular bail in connection with the AI Summit Protest case, had sought a modification of his bail conditions to retrieve his travel document.
The Legal Battle Over Travel Documents
The controversy stems from a bail order issued on February 28, 2026, which mandated that Chib deposit his passport with the court as a condition for his release. Recently, Chib approached the court again, arguing that since the Delhi Police Crime Branch has already filed the charge sheet, there is no longer a need for the court to hold onto his passport.
Senior counsel representing Chib emphasized that the IYC President has fully cooperated with the investigation and has no intention of absconding. The defense further pointed out that the Trial Court had previously noted that Chib does not pose a flight risk, making the retention of the passport unnecessary.
Delhi Police Opposes the Plea
The Delhi Police, represented by Special Public Prosecutor (SPP) Prashant Prakash, strongly opposed the application. The prosecution argued that the surrender of the passport was a deliberate and conscious condition imposed to ensure the accused's presence during the legal proceedings and to facilitate a fair investigation.
The SPP further contended that Chib had failed to demonstrate any immediate urgency or extreme hardship resulting from the lack of his passport. The prosecution went as far as to describe the application as "vague" and a "wastage of the court’s time," noting that the applicant had not even mentioned a specific plan to travel abroad.
The Court's Verdict
Additional Sessions Judge (ASJ) Dhirendra Rana dismissed the application, agreeing with the arguments presented by the Delhi Police. The judge clarified that the mere filing of a charge sheet does not automatically entitle an accused person to have their bail conditions deleted.
In his order, ASJ Rana stated that depositing a passport is not an "onerous task." He provided a clear roadmap for the IYC President should he need to travel:
- Seek Permission: The accused must first apply for permission to travel abroad from the Learned Trial Court.
- Conditional Release: If the travel request is granted, the court may then release the passport for a specific duration.
- Undertaking: The passport must be returned to the court following the trip, as per the original bail terms of February 2026.
Concluding the matter, the court found no merit in the plea and dismissed the application on October 24, keeping the passport under judicial custody.