New Delhi: Influencer and reservation reform activist Ajeet Bharti has responded after Delhi Police registered an FIR against him over alleged casteist and objectionable remarks concerning Nagina MP Chandrashekhar Azad.
The case was registered at North Avenue police station following a complaint by the Delhi unit president of the Azad Samaj Party (Kanshi Ram). The complaint relates to remarks allegedly made by Bharti during a YouTube programme streamed on August 22.
According to the complaint, Bharti made abusive and derogatory comments while responding to a viewer’s message involving his family and Chandrashekhar Azad. The complainant has alleged that the remarks included caste-based abuse, offensive references to women and comments concerning BR Ambedkar.
Bharti has denied making a casteist remark against Azad. In a post on X, he said his comments came after what he described as a vulgar comment involving his mother and sister. He also claimed that the FIR was registered under pressure and would not stand legal scrutiny.
Bharti said he would cooperate with the police investigation while maintaining that he had not crossed the legal limits of free speech.
The FIR reportedly invokes provisions of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Section 67 of the Information Technology Act.
Activist Tehseen Poonawalla has also expressed support for Bharti, questioning the action against him.
The case comes amid growing debate over caste-based reservation and recent protests demanding changes to the existing system. The legal validity of the allegations will now depend on the police investigation and further court proceedings.