Archive · 6 Sep 2026
Swatantra Bhardwaj Sent to One-Day Custody in Assault Case
A Delhi court ordered that Swatantra Bhardwaj stay in custody for one day.
Police detained him in Bulandshahr after an alleged fight at a protest in Delhi.
The alleged injured person was the father of a minor student activist.
Police added stronger legal provisions to the assault case.
A separate case under the child-protection law was also filed after the minor reported online threats and harassment.
Bhardwaj said he acted in self-defence.
He also made public claims that the man had suffered a serious head injury, while police described the injuries as simple.
Political parties and protest organisers demanded action against him.
The allegations are still being investigated and have not been proven in court.
A Delhi court remanded Hindutva influencer Swatantra Bhardwaj to one day of custody after his detention in Bulandshahr.
The case concerns an alleged assault on Sanjay Kumar, the father of a minor student activist, during a Cockroach Janta Party protest at Jantar Mantar.
Delhi Police added provisions of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and criminal intimidation to the original assault FIR.
Police separately registered a POCSO case over allegations of rape threats, online harassment, stalking, abuse and morphed images targeting the minor activist.
Bhardwaj has claimed he acted in self-defence, while reports differ on the protest date and whether the one-day custody was described as police or judicial custody.
- Who
- Swatantra Bhardwaj, Sanjay Kumar, Kumar’s minor daughter, Delhi Police, the Cockroach Janta Party and supporters including Chandrashekhar Azad.
- What
- Bhardwaj was remanded to one day of custody in connection with an alleged assault and separate allegations of online threats and harassment.
- When
- He was detained on Friday and produced before a Delhi court on Saturday; one report describes a subsequent Sunday judicial-custody order. Reports variously date the protest to June, June 23, July or July 20.
- Where
- The alleged assault occurred at a Cockroach Janta Party protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi; Bhardwaj was detained in Bulandshahr, Uttar Pradesh.
- Why
- Police sought to question Bhardwaj after adding SC/ST Act and criminal-intimidation provisions and registering a separate POCSO FIR.
Police and complainants’ allegations
Bhardwaj’s responses and denials
Alleged protest assault
Police and complainants’ allegations
Police and complainants allege that Bhardwaj assaulted Sanjay Kumar, the father of a minor activist, during a CJP protest.
Bhardwaj’s responses and denials
Bhardwaj later said he did not attack Kumar and acted in self-defence after being surrounded by protesters.
Severity of injuries
Police and complainants’ allegations
Delhi Police earlier described Kumar’s injuries as simple and said they were caused by a steel bracelet.
Bhardwaj’s responses and denials
Bhardwaj publicly claimed that he had “cracked the skull” and that Kumar needed 60 stitches.
Political protection claims
Police and complainants’ allegations
Bhardwaj’s remarks prompted demands for investigation, while the parties and politicians named in reports denied or distanced themselves from any connection.
Bhardwaj’s responses and denials
Bhardwaj claimed political connections helped him avoid arrest, but the reports do not establish that such connections affected the investigation.
- Court action
- A Delhi court ordered one day of custody; reports differ on whether the order was described as police or judicial custody.
- Detention
- Bhardwaj was detained by Delhi Police in Bulandshahr, Uttar Pradesh.
- Alleged assault
- The case concerns an alleged assault on Sanjay Kumar during a Cockroach Janta Party protest at Jantar Mantar.
- Added provisions
- Police added provisions of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and criminal intimidation to the assault FIR.
- Separate FIR
- A POCSO case was registered after the minor activist alleged rape threats, online harassment, stalking, verbal abuse and morphed images.
- Injury accounts
- Police described Kumar’s injuries as simple and linked them to a steel bracelet, while Bhardwaj claimed he had caused a much more serious injury.
- Bhardwaj’s response
- Bhardwaj said he acted in self-defence and disputed the allegations.
Sources
Swatantra Bhardwaj sent to one-day police custody
Swatantra Bhardwaj sent to one-day judicial custody
Swatantra Bhardwaj Sent To One-Day Police Custody After Arrest In Jantar Mantar Assault Case: Report
Hindutva influencer Swatantra Bhardwaj sent to one-day police custody
