What sparked Noida Police action against Ajeet Bharti after CJI remark
The Noida Police questioned journalist and social media influencer Ajeet Bharti on Tuesday over his remarks on Chief Justice of India (CJI) BR Gavai. The interrogation followed a courtroom incident where a lawyer tried to hurl a shoe at the CJI inside the Supreme Court.
On Monday, 71-year-old advocate Rakesh Kishore attempted to throw a shoe at Justice Gavai during a hearing. The act drew sharp criticism from the legal fraternity and political leaders. Kishore later said he was upset over Justice Gavai’s comments in a case on restoring a Vishnu idol in Khajuraho last month.
A day later, Bharti reacted on his podcast. He called Justice Gavai “a terrible judge who harbors anti-Hindu sentiments.” He warned that if judges continued to make “anti-Hindu” remarks, such incidents could move “from courtrooms to the streets.”
Bharti also posted a video clip of his remarks on X, formerly Twitter. In Hindi, he wrote, “Those who think I am scared of your gang, watch today’s live! Gavai is an undeserving judge; a contempt case should be filed against him.”
Soon after, Noida Police summoned Bharti for questioning. Officers took him to Sector 58 police station and then to the DCP office in Sector 12/22. Police sources said they wanted to question him about his recent posts on X. “He came for inquiry regarding his post,” said an officer. “We did not arrest him.”
Bharti confirmed the questioning on social media. He said he was fine and not under arrest. “I was called only regarding one of my social media posts,” he wrote.
Later that evening, Bharti made two more posts. In one, he claimed support from within the system. “The government is ours; the system is ours,” he wrote in Hindi. In another post, he said, “If the system were against me, I wouldn’t be out having coffee and almonds. The entire system is with us — the system of our ideas. Disagreements will happen, but we remain one. Jai Shri Ram.”
Meanwhile, police officers said the investigation continues and they are reviewing his online content. Bharti, who has over a million followers on X and YouTube, often makes controversial statements about caste and religion. His critics accuse him of promoting hate through his podcasts and videos.
Amid growing outrage, activist Suraj Kumar Bauddh, founder of Mission Ambedkar, wrote to Attorney General R. Venkataramani. He sought permission to initiate criminal contempt proceedings against Bharti and a religious speaker for their alleged remarks.
In his letter, Bauddh said the comments aimed to provoke violence against the Chief Justice and other judges. He added that the tone of the posts was “extremely dangerous” and that the content had gone viral, fueling heated debates and online hostility.
As tensions rise, the incident underscores the growing clash between social media commentary and judicial dignity. Both police and legal experts now watch closely how the controversy unfolds.
