Delhi HC rejects anticipatory bail plea of YouTuber in SC/ST Act case

The Delhi High Court on Thursday dismissed YouTuber Ajeet Bharti’s anticipatory bail plea in a case over alleged caste-based remarks against Nagina MP Chandrashekhar Azad, saying prima facie a case under the SC/ST Act was made out against him.

Justice Saurabh Banerjee said the case fell under Sections 3(1)(r) and 3(1)(s) of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and, therefore, Mr. Bharti was barred from seeking pre-arrest bail.

The case relates to a video which Mr. Bharti allegedly uploaded on August 22.

According to the FIR, the video had around 23,100 views when the case was registered and contained caste-based abuses, slurs and derogatory remarks aimed at Mr Azad, who is a Scheduled Caste member. The complaint also alleged remarks against Dr. B.R. Ambedkar and members of the SC and ST communities.