The Punjab and Haryana High Court directed YouTuber Ajeet Bharti to share details of his videos on CJI BR Gavai with Mohali Police to know if any FIRs exist against him. Justice Subhas Mehla disposed of his plea, saying he can email video details to the SSP, SAS Nagar for information.
The Punjab and Haryana High Court has directed YouTuber Ajeet Bharti to give details of his videos on Chief Justice of India (CJI) BR Gavai to the Mohali Police. This will help the authorities check whether any First Information Report (FIR) has been filed against him.
Bharti had earlier approached the High Court seeking protection from any coercive action by the Punjab Police. On October 27, the High Court had asked the State government to inform whether any FIR had been registered against him.
Later, on November 3, the State informed the Court that the police had taken note of several videos uploaded by Bharti, which contained abusive and derogatory language against CJI BR Gavai.
The State also said that it was not feasible to identify whether Bharti himself had been made an accused in the FIRs registered so far.
However, the State’s counsel suggested that Bharti’s petition could be disposed of with a liberty for him to send the details of his videos to the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), SAS Nagar, through email, to get information about any FIR against him.
Justice Subhas Mehla, who heard the case, noted that the State had taken cognizance of the videos but since the investigation is still ongoing, it was not possible at this stage to confirm if Bharti had been made an accused in any case.
In his order, Justice Mehla said:
“The present petition is disposed of with the direction that if the petitioner/accused wants to know the details of FIR then he is at liberty to furnish details of the video uploaded by him on social media to the Senior Superintendent of Police, S.A.S. Nagar and get the details regarding the FIR against him.”
CJI BR Gavai has recently faced sharp criticism and online trolling from various right-wing groups and individuals after his remarks in a case related to the restoration of a beheaded seven-foot idol of Lord Vishnu in Khajuraho.
ALSO READ: J&K High Court questions Mehbooba Mufti’s PIL on bringing back prisoners from outside UT
The situation escalated when advocate Rakesh Kishore allegedly tried to throw a shoe at the Chief Justice during court proceedings.
According to reports, the Punjab Police has registered multiple FIRs over social media posts and videos targeting the Chief Justice.
As per media coverage, Ajeet Bharti and others have been booked for making “casteist” and “provocative” statements against CJI Gavai in their online videos, both before and after the shoe-throwing incident.
In his plea, Bharti said that he had learned from media reports that criminal cases might have been filed against him under the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, but he had no official details of those cases.
Because of that, he said he was unable to seek regular legal remedies.
Bharti told the Court that his remarks were part of a “journalist opinion”, and that he has “highest reverence” for the judiciary.
Advocates Ashish Dixit and Shivam Tiwari represented Bharti in court, while Additional Advocate General Jastej Singh appeared for the State of Punjab.
Case Title:
Ajeet Bharti v. State of Punjab & Others.
Click Here to Read More Reports On YouTuber Ajeet Bharti
FOLLOW US FOR MORE LEGAL UPDATES ON YOUTUBE
