New Delhi, Feb 21: The Delhi Police has told a court that the recent protest by Youth Congress workers at the India AI Impact Summit 2026 was part of a larger conspiracy and may have been inspired by the Gen Z protest movement in Nepal.
According to police submissions, the demonstration at the summit venue involved a small group of activists who staged a shirtless protest and raised slogans against the government. The protest briefly disrupted proceedings at the high-profile event, which was attended by delegates and industry representatives.
Police told the court that the incident appeared to be more than a spontaneous protest and alleged that it followed a pattern similar to youth-led demonstrations seen in Nepal. Investigators said the accused needed to be confronted with each other and with digital evidence as part of the probe into the incident. 
The court granted police custody of some of the accused to allow further investigation into the planning and execution of the protest. Authorities said they were examining the background of the demonstration and the possible involvement of others.
Police are also looking into how the protesters gained access to the summit venue and whether the protest was coordinated in advance. The investigation includes scrutiny of materials used during the demonstration, including printed T-shirts and other items displayed at the venue. 
The protest took place during the summit at Bharat Mandapam, where Youth Congress activists removed their shirts and displayed slogans criticising the government. Security personnel intervened and the demonstrators were later detained.
The incident triggered a political controversy, with criticism from ruling party leaders and a defence of the protest by Congress leaders. The police investigation is continuing.
