Court Grants Swatantra Bhardwaj Temporary Relief In Assault Case Linked To Jantar Mantar Protest

A Delhi court on Tuesday granted three-week interim bail to self-styled right-wing influencer Swatantra Bhardwaj in connection with the alleged assault of the father of a Dalit student-activist during a Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protest at Jantar Mantar. Bhardwaj, who has been in judicial custody since his arrest in Uttar Pradesh on September 5, was granted temporary relief on a bail bond of ₹50,000 and a surety of the same amount. The case concerns an incident during the protest in which the student’s father allegedly sustained a head injury. Bhardwaj was initially booked under Sections 115(2) and 126(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, relating to causing simple hurt and wrongful restraint.

The case was subsequently expanded to include provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. Delhi Police had earlier extended his judicial custody until September 21. His arrest followed protests by CJP leaders, the student and her father outside the Parliament Street police station, where they demanded action in the assault case. The allegations gained wider attention after a video clip from an interview circulated on social media in which Bhardwaj appeared to claim that he had “cracked the skull” of the student’s father during the protest.

He also appeared to say that he had avoided arrest because of political connections. Bhardwaj later disputed the portrayal of the incident, saying that his actions were in self-defence. He claimed that he had been surrounded by 10 to 15 people and that he could have been attacked or killed if he had not acted. He also said video evidence supported his version of events. During Monday’s hearing, Bhardwaj’s lawyer argued that the arrest was politically motivated and maintained that the complainant had attacked Bhardwaj during the confrontation. The defence referred to a video that it said showed the complainant attacking Bhardwaj and causing him to fall.

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The lawyer also argued that Bhardwaj had earlier appeared before investigators after receiving a police notice and was allowed to leave, before being arrested following what the defence described as political developments. The defence further pointed to the registration of a separate POCSO case after his arrest. The separate FIR arose from a complaint by the minor student alleging online threats and harassment, with police saying they would investigate those allegations. Her identity has not been disclosed because she is a minor. The complainant’s lawyer opposed the bail plea and alleged that Bhardwaj had used casteist slurs during the incident. She also argued that Bhardwaj had acknowledged in a video that he was responsible for attacking the complainant.

Delhi Police, however, told the court that the original complaint did not contain an allegation of a casteist slur. The police said the allegation appeared in a subsequent statement, after which provisions of the SC/ST Act were added to the case. Bhardwaj had also approached the Delhi High Court with a habeas corpus petition challenging his arrest, but the plea was rejected. The legal dispute has also involved claims about Bhardwaj’s alleged political connections. In the interview that circulated online, he claimed proximity to NDA leaders Kapil Mishra and Chirag Paswan and suggested that political contacts had helped him avoid arrest.

Paswan denied the claim and filed a separate complaint against Bhardwaj for allegedly misusing his name. The developments also prompted competing demonstrations: while CJP supporters sought Bhardwaj’s arrest, members of the Hindu Raksha Dal protested for his release and sought action against the student over alleged social media posts concerning Hindu religion and deities. Bhardwaj was eventually arrested in Bulandshahr, Uttar Pradesh, after CJP supporters demanded his arrest over the alleged assault. With the Delhi court now granting him three weeks of interim bail, proceedings in the assault case will continue. The allegations remain subject to judicial determination, and the bail order does not amount to a finding of guilt.

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