Attorney General gives consent to initiate contempt proceedings against YouTuber Ajeet Bharti

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, September 14

Attorney General KK Venugopal on Tuesday granted sanction for initiating criminal contempt of court proceedings against YouTuber Ajeet Bharti for a video that allegedly scandalised the Supreme Court.

“I find that the contents of the video, which have been watched by 1.7 Lakh viewers are vituperative, gross and highly derogatory to the Supreme Court of India and judiciary as a whole,” Venugopal said in a letter to advocate Kritika Singh.

The video would lower the authority of the Supreme Court and attract contempt jurisdiction of the court, he noted.

Singh had on July 1 sought the Attorney General’s consent under Section 15 of the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971 to file a contempt case against Bharti.

The provision requires the Attorney General’s consent before the Supreme Court can take cognizance of a criminal contempt of court petition filed by a private person.

“There can be no doubt that the statements in question would lower the authority of the court in the eyes of public and obstructs the administration of justice,” the AG said.

Singh had said that Bharti’s video would mislead the public at large and leave a negative image of the judiciary.