Ajeet Bharti moves P&H High Court apprehending action by Punjab Police over comments about CJI BR Gavai

YouTuber Ajeet Bharti has approached the Punjab and Haryana High Court seeking protection against any coercive steps by Punjab Police in relation to his statements about Chief Justice of India (CJI) BR Gavai [Ajeet Bharti v State of Punjab & Others]..Justice Subhas Mehla heard the matter briefly today and granted State time to inform it whether any First Information Report (FIR) has been registered against Bharti. The Court will hear the matter next on November 3. "Learned State counsel, appearing on advance notice, requests for an adjournment by submitting that it is a roving enquiry and he will try to find out whether any FIR has been registered against the petitioner as no specific Police Station or District is mentioned in the petition, and it is not possible to search all the district of the State regarding the FIR," the Court recorded in the order. .CJI Gavai has come under sharp attack, both online and offline, from individuals and groups on the right for his remarks in a case concerning the restoration of a beheaded seven-foot idol of Lord Vishnu in Khajuraho. One advocate Rakesh Kishore even attempted to throw a shoe at him during court proceedings. Punjab Police is reported to have registered multiple First Information Reports (FIRs) over social media content targeting the CJI..According to media reports, Bharti and others have been booked for "casteist" and "provocative" remarks against CJI Gavai.In his plea before the Court, the right-wing commentator Bharti said that through media reports, he has come to know that criminal cases may have been registered against him under Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. However, he said since he did not have any knowledge about the particulars of these cases, he was unable to seek regular remedies.On his statements, Bharti claimed to have made a "journalist opinion". He also submitted that he has "highest reverence" for the judiciary."The Petitioner has given no statement or otherwise stated anything which has any criminal implication, much less violation of Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 as reported by several media reports. It is submitted the views of the Petitioner have always been in the nature of journalistic opinion on a matter of public importance and does not satisfy the statutory ingredients of the offences now being reportedly alleged through media. The Petitioner has highest reverence for the Judiciary and his statements /comments are intended to improve the functioning of the system," Bharti said..Bharti also submitted that Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders, while announcing strict action in the matter, have described the online attacks against CJI Gavai as an affront to the Constitution and Dalits. According to Bharti's petition,"Arvind Kejriwal, seizing upon the incident, issued a public statement asserting that Hon’ble Justice B.R. Gavai belongs to the Dalit community, branding the episode as an attack on Dalits, and urging strict action against those criticizing the Hon’ble CJI.".Advocates Ashish Dixit and Shivam Tiwari appeared for Bharti. Dixit's plea has been filed through Advocate Amit Siwach.Additional Advocate General Jastej Singh appeared for the State of Punjab.[Read Order]