Archive · 6 Sep 2026
Swatantra Bhardwaj Sent to Police Custody in Protest Assault Case
A Delhi court ordered Swatantra Bhardwaj to stay in police custody for one day.
Police had detained him in Bulandshahr after a protest demanded action against him.
The case involves an alleged fight with the father of a minor activist at Jantar Mantar.
The father said he suffered seven stitches and that the incident involved caste-based remarks and threats.
Police earlier described the injuries as simple and said they were caused by a steel bracelet.
Bhardwaj said he acted in self-defence because he feared being attacked by a mob.
The minor activist said she later received rape threats, abuse and altered images online.
Police registered a separate case under laws protecting children from sexual offences.
Chirag Paswan said Bhardwaj misused his name and that he wanted the matter investigated fairly.
A Delhi court remanded Hindutva influencer Swatantra Bhardwaj to one day of police custody after his detention in Bulandshahr.
The case concerns an alleged assault on the father of minor activist Nishu Azad during a Cockroach Janta Party protest at Jantar Mantar.
Police added provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and criminal intimidation to the original FIR.
A separate FIR under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act alleges that Nishu received rape threats, abuse, stalking and morphed images online.
Bhardwaj claimed self-defence, while Chirag Paswan denied association with him and said he filed a complaint seeking a fair investigation.
- Who
- Swatantra Bhardwaj, minor activist Nishu Azad and her father, Delhi Police, Cockroach Janta Party representatives, and Chirag Paswan are identified in the reports.
- What
- Bhardwaj was remanded to one day of police custody in an alleged protest assault case; a separate FIR concerns alleged online threats and harassment targeting Nishu.
- When
- Bhardwaj was detained on Friday and produced in court on Saturday. The alleged assault is dated to June in one report and July 20 in others.
- Where
- The alleged assault occurred at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi; Bhardwaj was detained in Bulandshahr, and the protest demanding action took place outside the Parliament Street police station.
- Why
- Police action followed allegations of assault, caste-related offences, criminal intimidation, and online rape threats and harassment targeting a minor.
Complainants and police allegations
Bhardwaj’s account and responses
What happened at the protest
Complainants and police allegations
Nishu’s father said Bhardwaj and companions confronted him and his daughter over filming and turned the dispute into a physical attack. Protest representatives sought stronger charges, including attempt to murder.
Bhardwaj’s account and responses
Bhardwaj said he and six friends were protesting against the Cockroach Janta Party and that he acted in self-defence after being surrounded by 10 to 15 people. He said he could have been lynched or killed.
Severity of the injuries
Complainants and police allegations
Nishu’s father said he suffered seven stitches and alleged that the attackers tried to kill him. Bhardwaj also claimed in an interview that the man needed 60 stitches.
Bhardwaj’s account and responses
Delhi Police previously described the injuries as simple and said they were caused by a steel bracelet. Bhardwaj cited the medical report and said there were no major injuries.
Political connections and online allegations
Complainants and police allegations
The minor activist alleged rape threats, verbal abuse, stalking and morphed images, leading to a separate child-protection FIR. Chirag Paswan said Bhardwaj misused the names of political leaders and filed a complaint.
Bhardwaj’s account and responses
Bhardwaj claimed political connections helped him avoid arrest, later said references to leaders were sarcastic, and denied the authenticity of the circulated podcast clip. The reports do not give a detailed response from him to the online-threat allegations.
- Court order
- One day of police custody
- Detention
- Bhardwaj was detained in Bulandshahr on Friday.
- Alleged assault
- The incident involved Nishu Azad’s father during a Cockroach Janta Party protest at Jantar Mantar; reports date it to June or July 20.
- Additional provisions
- Police added provisions under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and criminal intimidation laws.
- Separate FIR
- A fresh FIR under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act and other provisions concerns alleged online threats and harassment.
- Injury accounts
- Nishu’s father said he received seven stitches; police earlier described the injuries as simple and attributed them to a steel bracelet.
- Political response
- Chirag Paswan denied association with Bhardwaj and said he filed an official complaint after Bhardwaj used his name.
Sources
Jantar Mantar assault: Swatantra Bhardwaj, who bragged about cracking man's skull, booked under POCSO Act in fresh FIR
Hindutva Influencer Swatantra Bhardwaj Sent to One-Day Police Custody
CJP protest assault case: Court sends influencer Swatantra Bhardwaj to 1 day police custody