India, Feb. 27 -- What should have been a procedural arrest has turned into a major jurisdictional flash point. Delhi police officials in plain clothes picked up three Youth Congress activists, in connection with the 'shirtless' protest during the India AI summit at Bharat Mandapam, from a resort in Shimla, triggering an FIR by Himachal Pradesh police alleging abduction and procedural violations.

The high-voltage drama, which saw vehicles detained, an FIR registered, and officers questioned on procedure, has triggered a rare public face-off between the Delhi Police and Himachal Pradesh Police over the manner of arrest and seizure of CCTV footage from a private resort in Rohru.

The confrontation saw the Delhi Police team stopped multiple...