Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi

New Delhi, Feb 23: Delhi Police has made the fifth arrest in connection with the shirtless protest staged by workers of the Indian Youth Congress (IYC) during the AI Impact Summit held at Bharat Mandapam last week, officials said on Monday.

The accused, identified as Jitendra Yadav, was apprehended from Gwalior in Madhya Pradesh, taking the total number of arrests in the case to five.

On Friday, a group of IYC workers staged a protest inside an exhibition hall at the Bharat Mandapam during the AI Impact Summit. The protesters removed their shirts to reveal T-shirts printed with slogans against the government and the India-US trade deal, before being escorted out by security personnel.

Police had arrested four IYC workers on the day of the protest and said that a wider conspiracy angle was being examined.

According to officials, the protesters allegedly registered online to obtain QR codes for entry into the venue. Initially, they had planned to paste printed stickers on black umbrellas and carry them inside, but later changed their strategy, fearing that the umbrellas might attract attention from security personnel. They then opted to print slogans on T-shirts and wore them under their shirts.

Once inside Hall No. 5, the group raised slogans after removing their outer shirts. The T-shirts reportedly bore messages such as “PM is compromised”, “India-US Trade Deal” and “Epstein Files”.

Police sources alleged that some officers on duty were manhandled during the protest. Investigators are also examining the financial trail behind the demonstration, including who funded the printing of the slogan-bearing T-shirts.

The issue has sparked a political row, with the BJP terming it a “shameful act to tarnish India’s image on the global stage”, while the IYC defended the action as a peaceful protest aimed at safeguarding national interests.

IYC president Uday Bhanu Chib has earlier been questioned in connection with the case, and officials said more names have surfaced during the interrogation of those arrested.