Archive · 6 Sep 2026
Influencer Sent to Judicial Custody Over Alleged Jantar Mantar Assault
Swatantra Bharadwaj was arrested after a video allegedly showed him claiming that he hurt the father of a minor protestor.
He was taken to court by video call and ordered to remain in judicial custody for one day.
Police had first received permission to keep him in police custody for one day.
Bharadwaj’s lawyer said the police did not follow the usual court procedure.
The lawyer said Bharadwaj should have been brought before the local magistrate.
Protesters had demanded his arrest and a formal police case.
Several political leaders joined the protest.
Chirag Paswan said Bharadwaj had misused his name and that he would seek justice for the minor and her family.
Swatantra Bharadwaj was sent to one day of judicial custody after appearing before a court by video conference.
Delhi Police had obtained one day of police custody for Bharadwaj the previous day.
Bharadwaj was detained in Uttar Pradesh’s Bulandshahr district on Friday.
His lawyer alleged that police bypassed the proper jurisdictional magistrate and used an alternative court for the remand hearing.
Protesters sought Bharadwaj’s arrest under the POCSO Act, the SC/ST Act and attempt-to-murder provisions over a purported video about a minor protestor’s father.
- Who
- Swatantra Bharadwaj, the accused; the minor protestor and her father; Delhi Police; Bharadwaj’s lawyer; and political leaders who joined the protest.
- What
- Bharadwaj was placed in one day of judicial custody over allegations linked to his purported claim that he assaulted the father of a minor protestor.
- When
- He was detained on Friday and sent to judicial custody on Sunday, after one day of police custody.
- Where
- He was detained in Bulandshahr, Uttar Pradesh, and produced before the court by video conference; the alleged incident occurred during a demonstration at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi.
- Why
- Police acted after protests demanding Bharadwaj’s arrest and legal action under the POCSO Act, the SC/ST Act and attempt-to-murder provisions.
Police and Protesters
Defense and Political Response
Legal action
Police and Protesters
Police arrested Bharadwaj after protesters demanded an FIR and action under the POCSO Act, the SC/ST Act and attempt-to-murder provisions.
Defense and Political Response
Bharadwaj’s lawyer objected to the procedure used for the remand hearing, alleging that police acted outside standard legal procedures.
Remand procedure
Police and Protesters
Police produced Bharadwaj by video conference before a designated SC/ST court and secured one day of police custody before the judicial-custody order.
Defense and Political Response
The defense said Bharadwaj should have been produced before the jurisdictional magistrate within 24 hours and accused police of circumventing that process.
Political connection claim
Police and Protesters
Protesters sought action after a purported video allegedly showed Bharadwaj claiming he was protected by political connections.
Defense and Political Response
Chirag Paswan said his name had been misused by Bharadwaj and said he would seek justice for the minor and her family.
- Accused
- Swatantra Bharadwaj
- Current custody
- One day of judicial custody
- Previous custody
- Delhi Police had secured one day of police custody
- Detention location
- Bulandshahr district, Uttar Pradesh
- Alleged incident location
- Jantar Mantar, New Delhi
- Proposed legal provisions
- POCSO Act, SC/ST Act and attempt to murder
- Defense objection
- Bharadwaj’s lawyer alleged that police bypassed the jurisdictional magistrate and used another designated court