New Delhi: A Delhi court on Monday rejected anticipatory bail sought by YouTuber and commentator Ajeet Bharti in a case registered under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and other provisions.
Additional Sessions Judge Saurabh Pratap Singh Laler of Patiala House Courts dismissed Bharti’s anticipatory bail application in the case titled State of Delhi vs Ajeet Bharti.
Appearing for Bharti, advocate Jai Anant Dehadrai argued that the police had informed the court through a status report that they primarily sought to collect electronic data. He also maintained that Bharti was not against any community and did not harbour discriminatory feelings.
Bharti’s counsel further argued that the remarks attributed to the YouTuber were made in response to allegedly offensive comments concerning his mother or sister. According to the defence, the circumstances amounted to serious provocation and Bharti had not deliberately used caste-based slurs.
The prosecution, however, submitted that a prima facie case had been established against Bharti. Counsel for the complainant alleged that his commentary was abusive not merely towards the individual complainant but also towards the wider community.
Bharti was booked following allegations that he made casteist remarks during his YouTube programme. The YouTuber has publicly rejected the allegation, maintaining that his comments were a response to offensive remarks directed at his family.
The FIR invokes provisions of the SC/ST Act, Sections 196(1)(c) and 351(3) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), and the Information Technology Act.
