Reservation-reform activist and YouTuber Ajeet Bharti has criticised a Delhi court’s decision to reject his anticipatory bail plea in a case filed under the SC/ST Act.
Bharti said his remarks about Nagina MP Chandrashekhar Azad were not motivated by caste prejudice. He also alleged that legal provisions were being used to intimidate people campaigning for changes to the reservation system.
The case relates to comments Bharti made during a YouTube livestream in August. A complaint by Balakram Bauddh, Delhi president of the Azad Samaj Party (Kanshi Ram), led to an FIR at North Avenue police station.
The FIR invoked provisions of the SC/ST Act, Information Technology Act and Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. The complaint alleged that Bharti made caste-based and abusive comments while responding to a viewer’s suggestion involving his sister and Azad.
The Patiala House court, while rejecting his bail plea on September 7, observed that Bharti’s remarks about Azad being “worthy” of marrying an upper-caste woman appeared to reflect caste hierarchy and were humiliating in nature.
Bharti has disputed the court’s interpretation. He argued that the word “worthy” could relate to several factors and should not automatically be viewed through a caste-based lens.
He said he would continue highlighting what he considers misuse of the SC/ST Act.