6 days ago
Delhi Court Denies Ajeet Bharti Anticipatory Bail in SC/ST Case
A court in Delhi refused to protect YouTuber Ajeet Bharti from possible arrest before his case is decided.
The case is about comments in a video.
The complaint says the video included caste-based abuse, insulting remarks and threats.
The comments allegedly concerned Chandra Shekhar Aazad and B.R. Ambedkar.
Police said Bharti had no clear reason to fear arrest just because a case had been filed.
The police also said the investigating officer had not issued him a notice.
Bharti denied making casteist remarks.
His lawyer said Bharti was reacting to abusive posts about his sister.
A Delhi court rejected YouTuber Ajeet Bharti’s anticipatory bail plea on Monday.
The case concerns a video allegedly containing caste-based, abusive, humiliating and threatening remarks.
The complaint involved comments about Azad Samaj Party leader Chandra Shekhar Aazad and B.R. Ambedkar.
Delhi Police argued that Bharti could not claim an apprehension of arrest solely because an FIR had been registered.
Bharti denied using casteist slurs and said his remarks followed abusive social media posts targeting his sister.
- Who
- YouTuber and commentator Ajeet Bharti, complainant Balakram Bauddh and the Azad Samaj Party, Delhi Police, and the Delhi court.
- What
- The court rejected Bharti’s anticipatory bail plea in a case filed under the SC/ST Act, the Information Technology Act and provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
- Where
- The FIR was registered at North Avenue Police Station in Delhi. The video also referred to anti-reservation protests at Jantar Mantar.
- When
- The bail order was passed on Monday; the FIR was registered on August 23. The video discussed protests held in August.
- Why
- The complaint alleged caste-based, abusive, humiliating, sexually degrading and potentially inflammatory remarks, while Bharti said he was responding to abusive social media posts involving his sister.
Police and Complainant
Bharti and His Defense
Alleged video remarks
Police and Complainant
The complainant and Azad Samaj Party alleged that Bharti made caste-based, abusive, humiliating, sexually degrading and potentially inflammatory statements about Chandra Shekhar Aazad and B.R. Ambedkar.
Bharti and His Defense
Bharti denied using casteist slurs and rejected the allegations against him.
Reason for the remarks
Police and Complainant
The complaint characterized the video’s remarks as objectionable and potentially threatening.
Bharti and His Defense
Bharti’s lawyer said the remarks were made in response to abusive social media posts involving Bharti’s sister, which he described as a grave provocation.
Anticipatory bail
Police and Complainant
Delhi Police argued that the plea was not maintainable and that an FIR alone did not give Bharti reason to apprehend arrest.
Bharti and His Defense
Bharti’s lawyer sought anticipatory bail and asked the court to record that the investigating officer had not issued a notice.
Key facts
- Court decision
- Additional Sessions Judge Saurabh Pratap Singh Laler rejected Bharti’s anticipatory bail plea.
- Accused
- Ajeet Bharti, a YouTuber and commentator.
- Complaint
- The complaint was attributed to Azad Samaj Party leader Balakram Bauddh and concerned a video by Bharti.
- Alleged targets
- The complaint concerned remarks about Chandra Shekhar Aazad and B.R. Ambedkar.
- FIR date and location
- The FIR was registered on August 23 at North Avenue Police Station in Delhi.
- Laws cited
- The case invokes the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, Section 67 of the Information Technology Act and provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
- Police position
- Police said the plea was not maintainable and that registration of an FIR alone did not create an apprehension of arrest; they also said no investigating officer’s notice had been issued.
Quotes
Jai Anant Dehadrai
Counsel representing YouTuber Ajeet Bharti
“My remarks were made as a reaction because somebody said my married sister should marry someone”
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“This was a grave provocation”
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Sources
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