Archive · 24 Sep 2026
Delhi High Court Denies Ajeet Bharti Anticipatory Bail
A Delhi court refused to give YouTuber Ajeet Bharti advance protection from arrest.
The case is about comments he allegedly made about politician Chandra Shekhar Azad and Scheduled Caste communities.
The complaint also mentioned remarks about B R Ambedkar.
Police and the complainant said the comments used caste-based insults and were shared publicly online.
Bharti’s lawyer said the comments were made after someone posted abusive remarks about Bharti’s sister.
His lawyer also said Bharti did not mean to insult Azad because of his caste.
The judge said the available material showed possible offences under the SC/ST Act.
Because of that law, the court said Bharti could not receive anticipatory bail at this stage.
The Delhi High Court denied YouTuber Ajeet Bharti’s request for anticipatory bail in an SC/ST Act case.
The case concerns alleged casteist, abusive and derogatory remarks about MP Chandra Shekhar Azad, Scheduled Caste communities and B R Ambedkar.
Justice Saurabh Banerjee held that offences under Sections 3(1)(r) and 3(1)(s) were prima facie made out.
The court said the SC/ST Act’s statutory bar applied, making Bharti’s pre-arrest bail plea not maintainable.
Bharti said his remarks followed social-media comments about his sister, while prosecutors and the complainant said they were intentional and publicly made.
- Who
- YouTuber Ajeet Bharti, MP Chandra Shekhar Azad, the Delhi Police and the complainant Azad Samaj Party (Kanshi Ram).
- What
- The Delhi High Court dismissed Bharti’s anticipatory bail plea in a case involving alleged casteist and derogatory remarks.
- When
- The High Court issued its decision on Thursday, September 24; a trial court had rejected Bharti’s plea on September 7.
- Where
- The case is before the Delhi High Court and concerns an FIR registered at North Avenue Police Station in New Delhi.
- Why
- The court found that offences under Sections 3(1)(r) and 3(1)(s) of the SC/ST Act were prima facie established, triggering the statutory bar on anticipatory bail.
Bharti’s Position
Police and Complainant’s Position
Intent behind the remarks
Bharti’s Position
Bharti’s counsel said the remarks arose from an online exchange and were a response to abusive comments about Bharti’s sister, not an attempt to target Azad because of his caste.
Police and Complainant’s Position
The Delhi Police and complainant said the remarks were intentional, derogatory and directed at a particular caste and its members.
Applicability of the SC/ST Act
Bharti’s Position
Bharti’s counsel argued that an abusive statement alone does not establish an offence without an intention to insult or humiliate someone on the basis of caste, and denied that Bharti used casteist slurs.
Police and Complainant’s Position
The prosecution and complainant argued that repeated caste references and alleged insults met the requirements of Sections 3(1)(r) and 3(1)(s).
Public-view requirement
Bharti’s Position
Bharti disputed that the statutory requirements for the SC/ST Act were satisfied.
Police and Complainant’s Position
The prosecution and complainant said the remarks were posted on a publicly accessible social-media platform viewed by about 23,000 people, satisfying the public-view requirement at this stage.
- Accused
- YouTuber Ajeet Bharti
- Complainant
- Azad Samaj Party (Kanshi Ram), according to one report
- FIR
- FIR No. 30/2026, registered at North Avenue Police Station
- Legal provisions
- Sections 3(1)(r) and 3(1)(s) of the SC/ST Act, along with provisions of the Information Technology Act and Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita
- High Court judge
- Justice Saurabh Banerjee
- Earlier ruling
- Patiala House Courts rejected Bharti’s anticipatory bail plea on September 7
- Public reach
- The trial court recorded that the social-media episode had received more than 23,000 views
Sources
Delhi HC rejects anticipatory bail plea of YouTuber in SC/ST Act case
Delhi HC denies anticipatory bail to YouTuber Ajeet Bharti in SC/ST Act case
Ajit Bharti's Anticipatory Bail Plea Rejected By Delhi HC In SC-ST Act Case Over Chandrashekhar Azad Remarks
YouTuber Ajeet Bharti denied anticipatory bail by HC for remarks about Bhim Army chief
