The Patiala House Court in New Delhi has set a hearing for March 14 regarding anticipatory bail applications filed by Manish Sharma and Rajeev Kumar. The case pertains to a protest that took place during the AI Impact Summit held on February 20 at Bharat Mandapam. The court has designated Saturday at 2 PM for Delhi Police to present their arguments in the matter.

Allegations Against Manish Sharma

Delhi Police have described Manish Sharma as a central figure in orchestrating the ‘shirtless’ protest during the summit. Furthermore, authorities have issued a Non-Bailable Warrant against him. During the court proceedings, Additional Sessions Judge (ASJ) Amit Bansal listened to advocates representing both accused. Senior counsel Ramesh Gupta, along with Rebecca John and others, argued on behalf of Sharma. Advocate Amrish Ranjan and Ekta Bhasin represented Kumar.

Defense Arguments Surrounding the Protest

During the hearing, top police officers including DCP Crime and other personnel from the crime branch were present. Ramesh Gupta contended that the accusations stemmed from a political agenda rather than genuine legal concerns. He stated that the protest should be viewed in light of similar historical protests, questioning why prior protests had not faced legal scrutiny if those actions were deemed problematic. Gupta also argued that Sharma was not present at the protest and questioned the police’s claims regarding evidence linking him to its planning and logistics.

Concerns Over Police Conduct

Gupta raised concerns about the procedural conduct of the police, noting their failure to provide a copy of the FIR. He highlighted that all offences cited against the accused carry a punishment of less than five years. Clarifying the validity of the police’s Non-Bailable Warrant issued on March 7, he queried the necessity of custodial interrogation at this stage.

Police Opposition to Anticipatory Bail

Representing the Delhi Police, Additional Solicitor General D P Singh and Additional Public Prosecutor Atul Shrivastav opposed the bail applications. ASG Singh argued that Manish Sharma’s role as the head of the Indian Youth Congress necessitated his custody for confirming the involvement of additional persons in the case. In a rebuttal, Gupta questioned the legality of being associated with the Indian Youth Congress, leading to a contentious exchange between him and ASG Singh.

Next Steps in Legal Proceedings

The hearing was subsequently adjourned as the court awaits further arguments from the Delhi Police. The developments in this case will be closely monitored as both sides prepare for the upcoming court session.

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