Hindutva influencer Swatantra Bhardwaj was arrested by Delhi Police and remanded to one-day police custody in connection with the alleged assault on the father of a student activist during a protest at Jantar Mantar. His arrest came hours after members of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) staged a protest outside the Parliament Street police station demanding action against him.
Bhardwaj was detained in Uttar Pradesh's Bulandshahr on Friday after police teams traced him to the area. According to police sources, he had allegedly attempted to leave the area before being apprehended. He was produced before a Delhi court on Saturday and sent to one-day police custody.
What is the case against Swatantra Bhardwaj?
The case relates to an altercation during a CJP protest at Delhi's Jantar Mantar. The father of student activist Nishu Azad, identified as Sanjay Kumar, was allegedly assaulted during the demonstration.
According to the complaint, Kumar was recording the protest when an argument broke out over filming. The confrontation allegedly escalated after several people joined in, with Kumar claiming that he was hit on the head with a hard object. Delhi Police had initially described his injuries as simple and said they were caused during a scuffle.
The case returned to the spotlight after a podcast clip in which Bhardwaj appeared to claim that he had "cracked" Kumar's skull and that the victim required around 60 stitches. He also allegedly suggested that he had avoided jail because of political connections.
Bhardwaj has denied deliberately attacking Kumar and said that he acted in self-defence. He has also disputed the version of events presented in the viral clip.
SC/ST Act, criminal intimidation charges added
Following pressure from the protesters, Delhi Police added provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and criminal intimidation to the FIR, according to reports.
Police are also examining whether stronger charges, including an attempt-to-murder provision, are warranted based on the medical evidence and investigation.
A separate FIR has also been registered under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act following a complaint by the minor activist alleging online threats and harassment. Police have also invoked provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Information Technology Act in connection with the allegations.
CJP had demanded Bhardwaj's arrest
The arrest followed mounting pressure from CJP members and political leaders. The group, along with supporters including Nagina MP Chandrashekhar Azad, had approached the Parliament Street police station and demanded action against Bhardwaj.
The protesters sought stronger charges in the assault case and a separate FIR over alleged online threats against Nishu Azad. Delhi Police had earlier assured the delegation that Bhardwaj would be arrested within 72 hours.
Bhardwaj has now been placed in one-day police custody as the investigation into the alleged assault and the subsequent complaints continues.
