Social media influencer Swatantra Bhardwaj has been arrested by Delhi Police in connection with an alleged assault on the father of a minor Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) activist during a protest at Jantar Mantar.
The arrest came a day after Bhardwaj was detained in Uttar Pradesh. His arrest has followed growing protests and demands for strict action over the alleged incident, while Bhardwaj has denied assaulting the man and said he acted in self-defence.
A fresh FIR has also been registered against him under the POCSO Act following a complaint by the minor activist alleging online threats and harassment.
Bhardwaj Produced Before Judge Through Video Conference
After his arrest, Bhardwaj was produced at the residence of Additional Sessions Judge Saurabh Pratap Singh Laler at around 2 pm.
He was originally expected to be physically produced at the Patiala House courts, but his legal aid counsel appeared before the judge through video-conferencing.
The development came as security was tightened outside the Parliament Street police station, where supporters of Bhardwaj gathered to stage a protest.
Barricades were placed at strategic points around the police station, while paramilitary personnel were deployed as a precautionary measure, according to a police officer.
Fresh FIR Under POCSO Act
Delhi Police also registered a fresh FIR against Bhardwaj under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
The case was registered following a complaint by the minor CJP activist, who alleged that she had faced online threats and harassment.
The FIR also invokes provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Information Technology Act.
Police Add SC/ST Act and Criminal Intimidation Charges
Delhi Police on Friday also added provisions of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and criminal intimidation to the FIR related to the alleged assault on the minor activist’s father.
The action came after renewed controversy surrounding remarks attributed to Bhardwaj in an interview. In the interview, he claimed that he had “cracked the skull” of the minor activist’s father during the July 20 protest.
Bhardwaj later said in a podcast that he had acted in self-defence.
CJP Protesters Demand Strict Action
The CJP had organised a protest outside the Parliament Street police station on Friday, demanding action against Bhardwaj over the alleged assault.
The group had also demanded that provisions related to attempt to murder, criminal intimidation and the SC/ST Act be added to the case.
The protest followed a viral podcast clip in which Bhardwaj allegedly discussed the Jantar Mantar incident and his claimed political connections.
CJP spokesperson Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka demanded stringent action against Bhardwaj.
Ranka alleged that the minor activist’s father had been beaten during the Jantar Mantar protest and accused Delhi Police of not taking adequate action.
The CJP delegation said it had approached the police seeking justice for the minor activist and her father. Aazad Samaj Party (Kanshi Ram) MP Chandrashekhar Azad also joined the protest.
Minor Activist Says Incident Deeply Affected Her
The minor CJP activist said the incident had deeply affected her and alleged that she had also received abuse and rape threats from Bhardwaj’s supporters.
She said police officers had assured her that Bhardwaj would be arrested within 72 hours and that action would be taken.
According to her, the continued abuse and threats had affected her education and she stopped going to school for weeks because she felt judged by people around her.
She said she had also filed an FIR over the alleged threats and hoped the police would now take action and ensure that she did not have to suffer further.
Bhardwaj Denies Assault, Claims Self-Defence
Bhardwaj has denied assaulting the minor activist’s father.
He maintained that what people were calling an attack was actually an act of self-defence. He claimed that he had been surrounded by 10 to 15 people and feared that he could have been lynched or killed if he had not defended himself.
He also dismissed the viral podcast clip as fake and said remarks about his political connections had been made sarcastically.
Police Dispute Claim of Skull Fracture
Delhi Police had earlier rejected claims that the minor activist’s father, Sanjay Kumar, suffered a fractured skull.
The DCP (New Delhi) said Kumar’s injuries were “simple in nature” and were caused by a steel bracelet or kada, rather than a weapon.
Police said the claim about a cracked skull was not supported by the medical legal certificate (MLC) and described the allegation as baseless.
Police Say Investigation Is Underway
Police said a case had already been registered at the Parliament Street police station and that two individuals, including Bhardwaj, had been questioned.
According to Delhi Police, Bhardwaj and another accused were served notices as required under law and were interrogated as part of the investigation.
Police said legal action had been taken and that a chargesheet would be filed before the competent court.
They also rejected allegations of political influence or interference in the investigation.
The controversy had earlier intensified after the minor CJP activist posted a video claiming that her father needed stitches following the alleged attack and expressing disappointment over the pace of the investigation. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and other opposition leaders subsequently expressed support for her and criticised the government over the matter.
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