Delhi High Court rejects anticipatory bail plea of YouTuber Ajeet Bharti in SC/ST Act case

The Delhi High Court on Thursday (September 24, 2026) dismissed YouTuber Ajeet Bharti’s plea seeking anticipatory bail in a case concerning alleged casteist remarks against Nagina MP Chandrashekhar Azad.

Justice Saurabh Banerjee said a prima facie case under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act was made out against Mr. Bharti and noted that the legislation imposes a statutory bar on granting pre-arrest bail in such cases.

“...a case under the provisions of the SC/ST Act is prima facie made out against the applicant (Mr Bharti) and considering the statutory bar (on grant of bail) under the SC/ST Act, the present petition seeking grant of anticipatory bail is dismissed being not maintainable,” the court said.

The court had reserved its order on September 16 after hearing arguments from Mr. Bharti’s counsel, the Delhi Police and Mr. Azad, who is also the chief of the Bhim Army.