The footage shows Bhatt being cornered and questioned by local vigilantes identifying themselves as "British patriots."

During the confrontation, a visibly shaken Bhatt is seen admitting to his actions and pleading with the group for leniency and a "last chance."

Explicit texts sent despite awareness of legal consequences

According to the report, Bhatt openly acknowledged exchanging sexually explicit messages with an individual he believed to be a 14-year-old girl.

Evidence from the digital exchange indicates he was fully aware of the illegal nature of his actions; upon learning the girl's age, he allegedly messaged, "I will go to jail," accompanied by laughing emojis.

Despite this realization, he continued the inappropriate communication, sent an explicit video of himself, and urged the minor to sneak into his room.

Attempted real-world meeting interrupted

The grooming attempt escalated from online messaging to an attempted physical encounter. Bhatt allegedly tried to borrow money from the minor to book a hotel room where they could meet.

He was reportedly intercepted and confronted by the vigilante group at the designated meeting location while waiting for the individual to arrive.

It remains unconfirmed whether the operation utilized an adult decoy profile—a standard tactic in online grooming stings—or if a minor was directly targeted.

Growing public scrutiny

Bhatt revealed during the confrontation that he moved to the UK three years ago on a student visa, graduating from the University of Leeds, and was currently residing in the country on a post-study work visa.

This incident follows a similar high-profile case from January, where another international student, Gureet Jeetesh, was arrested in Coventry under similar allegations.

These consecutive incidents have fueled intensified public debate regarding visa oversight and student conduct in the UK.