The first day of the India AI Impact Summit at Bharat Mandapam was marked by a security incident involving the theft of proprietary hardware. Dhananjay Yadav, CEO of the startup NeoSapien, reported that his company's patented AI wearable devices were stolen from his exhibition booth during a security sweep. The event, meant to showcase India’s progress in Artificial Intelligence, required exhibitors to vacate their stalls ahead of a visit by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. While the area was under strict control by security forces, the devices disappeared, leading to questions about the coordination between different safety teams. Following a formal complaint and a social media post showing empty product boxes, the Delhi Police launched an investigation. Within 24 hours, officials confirmed they had identified a suspect and recovered the missing items, highlighting both the speed of the police response and the initial gaps in venue security.
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Event Timeline and Security Measures
The incident occurred on the opening day of the summit, which serves as a major platform for domestic tech startups.
12:00 PM: Security personnel began clearing the exhibition hall to "sanitize" the area before the Prime Minister's arrival.
12:00 PM – 2:00 PM: Startup founders and staff were moved outside, leaving their booths unattended under the supervision of security.
2:00 PM: The Prime Minister arrived to inaugurate the expo.
Post-Visit: When Dhananjay Yadav returned to the NeoSapien stall, he discovered the wearable devices were missing from their display boxes.
Next 24 Hours: Delhi Police registered a First Information Report (FIR), analyzed CCTV footage, and recovered the stolen property.
Evidence of Loss and Recovery
The investigation relied on digital evidence and physical discovery at the scene.
"Initially one security team had allowed [me] to stay back… He added that another group came and ordered us to leave immediately." — Dhananjay Yadav, CEO of NeoSapien
Physical Evidence: Images shared by the founder showed empty display packaging at the booth inside a high-security zone.
CCTV Data: Manish Kumar Agrawal, Special Commissioner of Police, confirmed that the venue was covered by cameras which helped in the search.
Police Action: An FIR was filed immediately after the report, leading to a swift recovery of the "patented AI wearables" designed to track emotions and conversations.
The stolen goods were recovered in just over 24 hours following the identification of a person involved in the theft.
Security Coordination and Access Issues
| Feature | Reported Experience | Official Context |
|---|---|---|
| Security Orders | Conflicting instructions; one team allowed stay, another forced exit. | High-level protocol for VVIP (PM) visits requires total clearance. |
| Booth Access | Founders locked out of their own paid stalls for several hours. | Gates were closed to manage crowds and ensure safety during the visit. |
| Asset Protection | Devices left unattended based on security instructions. | Local police are investigating how a person gained access during the lockdown. |
The Impact on Startup Founders
The theft was not the only problem reported by innovators at the summit. Maitreya Wagh, CEO of Bolna AI, noted that entry disruptions made it impossible to reach his own booth. He mentioned the irony of a summit meant to support "builders" actually locking them out of the venue.
Dhananjay Yadav described the loss as "difficult and painful," specifically because the items were taken from a zone that was supposed to be fully secured. The confusion between different security groups—where one group permits an action and another forbids it—points to a possible lack of a single chain of command during the transition to VVIP security.
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Investigation Results
The Delhi Police moved quickly to address the public and professional fallout of the theft.
Suspect Identification: Police have not yet released the name or motive of the individual, but they confirmed a person was "identified and involved."
Asset Recovery: The "India-first" wearables are now back with the founder, allowing the startup to continue its demonstrations for the remainder of the summit.
The recovery was finalized on Tuesday, February 17, following a swift investigation by the local division.
Expert Analysis
Manish Kumar Agrawal, Special Commissioner of Police (Intelligence Division), provided an official stance on the matter. He stated that the local police are actively investigating the details of how the breach occurred. He emphasized that the presence of CCTV cameras was a primary factor in solving the case quickly.
Industry observers suggest that while the police performed well in recovering the items, the event organizers may need to review how they handle "high-security shutdowns." If exhibitors are forced to leave expensive, proprietary hardware behind, there must be a clear and accountable hand-off to a specific security team to prevent similar events in the future.
Summary of Findings
The investigation concludes that while the India AI Impact Summit faced significant logistical and security coordination challenges on its first day, the criminal element was addressed quickly.
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A Security Gap Existed: The theft happened during a window where exhibitors were removed but the area was not fully locked down against individuals already inside the perimeter.
Swift Police Response: The recovery of high-tech prototypes within 24 hours suggests that the surveillance systems at Bharat Mandapam are effective when combined with rapid police work.
Logistical Lessons: The "backlash" from founders like Yadav and Wagh indicates that future summits must balance high-level security with the practical needs of the technology companies paying to exhibit.
The summit continues through February 20, with increased focus on booth security and smoother entry for delegates.
Sources Used
The Hindu: Report on suspect identification and CEO complaint. Link
Business Standard: Details on the theft during the PM's visit and Special Commissioner's statement. Link
India Today: Information regarding the recovery of devices within 24 hours. Link
News18: Details on the FIR registration and empty box images. Link
CNBC TV18: Coverage of the backlash regarding entry chaos and the Bolna AI founder's comments. Link
LiveMint: Insights into the security clearance process and the nature of the patented technology. Link
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