The Ludhiana police arrested Delhi-based YouTuber, digital content creator and self-proclaimed political satirist Rachit Kaushik from Muzaffarnagar in Uttar Pradesh on Tuesday night.
Ludhiana police commissioner Kuldeep Singh Chahal stated that Kaushik was arrested after a case was filed against him for allegedly hurting religious sentiments and promoting enmity between different groups based on religion.
An FIR against unknown individuals was registered on January 17, based on the complaint of Alisha Masih, a pastor at the “Temple of God” church in Peeru Banda area of Ludhiana. He alleged that a video uploaded from a handle named “No conversion” on X hurt religious sentiments of the Christian community and insulted Christian women and nuns.
Masih further mentioned, “The videos also contained baseless allegations on conversions and wrong words against Jesus Christ. We have been reporting such videos to our local police station. I have no affiliation with any political party or organization, and I am not familiar with the arrested individual.”
CP Chahal revealed that the account on X was operated by Kaushik, who posted several videos instigating one community against another. He explained, “He is also managing many other handles on YouTube and Instagram, promoting hate speech and enmity. In many cases, he doesn’t use his real name and promotes enmity.” Chahal added that Kaushik was arrested after a non-bailable warrant was issued by the local court. “A team was dispatched to Uttar Pradesh, and he was arrested with the assistance of the local police station,” he said.
The FIR was registered under Sections 295-A, 153-A, 153, 504 of IPC and 67 Information Technology Act at Salem Tabri police station. Kaushik was taken to the court of judicial magistrate Varundeep Chopra and was placed under a two-day police remand.
Shortly after his arrest, Kaushik claimed in his latest post on his Instagram handle – sabloktantra – that he was a “bold voice of Hindutva, famous journalist, political analyst” and had been “picked up under a political conspiracy” by Punjab Police from Muzaffarnagar. He also urged the Supreme Court and Yogi Adiyanath-led Uttar Pradesh government to take notice of the matter.
Supporters of Kaushik, who calls himself ‘Sab Loktantra ka Baba’, have been using the hashtag “Justice for Baba” and “Rachit Kaushik kidnapped” since his arrest. However, Muzaffarnagar police clarified in a statement on X, “He was not kidnapped but arrested by Ludhiana Police after due court warrants as serious charges and a non-bailable warrant was issued against him.”
AAP Punjab spokesperson Malwinder Singh Kang did not respond to multiple calls and messages.
Meanwhile, BJP leader Tajinder Bagga, who was in 2022 picked up by Punjab police from his Delhi residence on similar charges, drew a connection between the Youtuber’s arrest and Kaushik’s alleged exposé on Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s son. He claimed that in one of Kaushik’s videos on X, he purportedly said that Kejriwal’s son Pulkit was earning Rs 10 lakh per month by renting out high-end treadmills to the Delhi government.