Delhi Police Transit Remand Meets Himachal FIR in ‘Abduction’ Showdown Over Youth Congress Arrests Linked to Topless Protest
A sharp inter-state jurisdictional confrontation is currently underplay between Delhi Police and Himachal Pradesh Police. This comes after Shimla Police registered an FIR against nearly 15 Delhi Police personnel for what they claimed was alleged abduction in connection with the arrest of three Youth Congress activists who are said to be linked to the February 20 shirtless protest at the India AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi.
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| Himanchal Police VS Delhi Police Standoff in Shimla; Pic Via: Bharat Briefs on X |
The individuals allegedly seized a Mahindra Thar vehicle belonging to the guests and also removed the DVR of CCTV cameras installed at Chanshal Resort without issuing any seizure memo or receipt. Based on the complaint, an FIR was registered at Chirgaon police station and an investigation was also initiated.
The three individuals have been identified as Arbaz, Siddharth and Saurabh and were arrested by Delhi Police in connection with the February 20 protest at Bharat Mandapam during the India AI Impact Summit, where a group of Youth Congress members staged a brief shirtless demonstration inside a hall of the international conference venue.
Absolute cinema by Himachal Pradesh Police🗿
— Mohit Chauhan (@mohitlaws) February 25, 2026
Delhi Police went to Himachal Pradesh to arrest three IYC workers without informing the Himachal Police.
Delhi Police officers were roaming in plain clothes in Himachal Pradesh to arrest IYC workers.
They arrested the three IYC… pic.twitter.com/uLOmuYvs6n
Upon learning of the operation in Rohru, Himachal Pradesh Police set up a checkpoint at Dharampur in Solan district and detained the Delhi Police team along with the three detained individuals on Wednesday afternoon.
The group, according to verified news reports, was escorted to the Shimla district court, where Delhi Police presented documents related to an FIR registered in Delhi. Himachal authorities termed the arrests “illegal”. They argued that local police were not informed prior to the action. On the other hand, Delhi Police accused their counterparts of obstructing official duty.
An Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate (ACJM) apparently granted transit remand for the three accused after medical examinations were conducted at Deen Dayal Upadhyay Zonal Hospital in Shimla. The Delhi Police said they were granted 18 hours of transit remand.
WATCH: Himachal Police vs Delhi Police.
— Prashant Kumar (@scribe_prashant) February 25, 2026
pic.twitter.com/G1aeQRXdrj
However, as the Delhi team proceeded towards the national capital, Shimla Police stopped them again near Shoghi on Wednesday evening, informing them that an FIR had been registered against the Delhi Police personnel for alleged abduction and directing them to join the investigation. The standoff extended into the early hours of Thursday.
This is absolute cinema 🔥
— Ankit Mayank (@mr_mayank) February 25, 2026
Delhi Police is literally crying in front of Himachal Police after getting arrested for illegally detaining IYC workers
Nothing is more satisfying than seeing Delhi Police crying 😭😭😭pic.twitter.com/Ti7sF9t4tm
According to video observations reported from the scene, the Delhi Police team was detained again at Kanlog early Thursday morning. They were instructed to return to Delhi with the three accused along with a few additional police personnel while the remaining members were asked to stay back and cooperate with the investigation into the kidnapping case.
The Shimla Police also barricaded a Delhi Police vehicle believed to contain CCTV footage and other digital evidence, and sought the keys to the vehicle, which Delhi Police refused to hand over, stating that a seizure memo had been provided and relevant documents shown to the ACJM.
Delhi Police arranged medical examinations for the three arrested Youth Congress workers in Shimla and stated that the safety of the accused was their responsibility and that they would not leave any of their personnel behind. Both police forces have so far declined to comment publicly on the standoff.
Advocate representing the accused Youth Congress members argued that the arrest was illegal and opposed the transit remand on grounds of improper procedure and lack of documentation. Advocate representing Delhi Police, however, said the transit remand application had been presented and approved by the court.
The confrontation follows earlier tensions between the two states. On February 21, Delhi Police conducted a raid at Himachal Sadan in Delhi after receiving information that Youth Congress members who had participated in the AI Summit protest were staying there. This drew condemnation of Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, who was in Delhi at the time. He stated that Delhi Police should have informed Himachal government officials.
Investigations by Shimla Police into the alleged abduction case remain ongoing.
Update: The Delhi Police team has returned with three Youth Congress activists arrested in link with the topless protest at the AI Impact Summit.
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