Archive · 5 Sep 2026
Chirag Paswan Complains Over Influencer’s Alleged Name Misuse
Chirag Paswan is a Union minister and leader of the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas).
He says an influencer named Swatantra Bhardwaj wrongly used his name.
Bhardwaj was shown in a video discussing an alleged attack on Sanjay Kumar, the father of student activist Nishu Aazad.
The alleged attack happened during a protest at Jantar Mantar in July.
Bhardwaj reportedly said political connections helped him avoid jail.
He later said he acted in self-defence and that Kumar was not seriously injured.
Paswan says he does not personally know Bhardwaj and wants a fair investigation.
Reports differ on whether Bhardwaj was only detained or had already been formally arrested.
Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) filed a complaint against influencer Swatantra Bhardwaj at Delhi’s Parliament Street police station.
Chirag Paswan said Bhardwaj falsely used his name and those of other political leaders to suggest he had political protection.
A purported video shows Bhardwaj claiming he assaulted student activist Nishu Aazad’s father, Sanjay Kumar, during a July 23 protest at Jantar Mantar.
Bhardwaj allegedly said Kumar suffered an injury requiring 60 stitches, while separately claiming the incident was self-defence and caused no major injuries.
Delhi Police detained Bhardwaj in Uttar Pradesh on Friday; one report said he was arrested and remanded to one-day custody on Saturday, while another said no case had yet been registered.
- Who
- Chirag Paswan, Swatantra Bhardwaj, student activist Nishu Aazad and her father Sanjay Kumar, the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), Delhi Police, and the Cockroach Janta Party.
- What
- Paswan’s party filed a complaint alleging that Bhardwaj misused Paswan’s name in connection with an alleged assault on Kumar.
- When
- The alleged assault occurred on July 23; the complaint and police detention were reported on Friday, while one report said Bhardwaj was arrested and remanded on Saturday.
- Where
- The alleged assault occurred at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi; the complaint was filed at Parliament Street police station, and Bhardwaj was detained in Uttar Pradesh.
- Why
- Paswan said he sought protection from false claims, an impartial investigation, and justice for Kumar’s family.
Paswan and Complainants’ Position
Claims Attributed to Bhardwaj
Personal relationship
Paswan and Complainants’ Position
Paswan said photographs or meetings in public do not mean that Bhardwaj personally knows him, and that invoking his name was improper.
Claims Attributed to Bhardwaj
Bhardwaj reportedly called Paswan his “elder brother” and said he had the support of several political leaders.
Political protection
Paswan and Complainants’ Position
Paswan said his name was misused to suggest that he or his party helped Bhardwaj avoid action, and requested a fair investigation.
Claims Attributed to Bhardwaj
Bhardwaj allegedly said a call from Delhi minister Kapil Mishra helped him avoid arrest, but the reports contain no evidence that the named leaders intervened.
What happened during the protest
Paswan and Complainants’ Position
Paswan and protest organisers described the alleged assault as serious and sought strict action, including additional legal provisions.
Claims Attributed to Bhardwaj
Bhardwaj claimed he acted in self-defence after being surrounded by 10 to 15 people, and said Kumar did not suffer major injuries according to a police medical report.
- Complainant
- Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), led by Chirag Paswan
- Person named in complaint
- Swatantra Bhardwaj
- Alleged victim
- Sanjay Kumar, father of student activist Nishu Aazad
- Alleged injury
- Bhardwaj reportedly claimed Kumar suffered an injury requiring 60 stitches
- Complaint location
- Parliament Street police station, New Delhi
- Police action
- Bhardwaj was detained in Uttar Pradesh on Friday; one report said he was arrested and remanded to one-day police custody on Saturday
- Legal-status discrepancy
- Reports differed on whether a formal case had been registered; another report said police were considering charges including attempt to murder, the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Prevention of Atrocities Act, and POCSO
Sources
Chirag Paswan files complaint against Hindutva influencer for ‘falsely’ using his name in assault case
"Misuse Of Name": Chirag Paswan Files Complaint Against Right-Wing Influencer
'Misused my name, have filed complaint': Chirag Paswan over Swatantra Bharadwaj's viral video row