A Delhi court on Tuesday granted regular bail to self-styled Hindutva influencer Swatantra Bhardwaj in a case concerning the alleged assault of the father of a student activist during a Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protest at Jantar Mantar. Additional Sessions Judge Saurabh Pratap Singh Laler of the Patiala House Court passed the order after Bhardwaj had earlier been granted three weeks of interim bail. The court considered his conduct during the interim-bail period while deciding his plea for regular bail. The detailed order setting out the conditions of the relief was awaited.

The case relates to an alleged altercation during a CJP protest at Jantar Mantar on June 23. According to the prosecution, the complainant had gone to the protest with his daughter and a friend when a confrontation allegedly broke out after someone objected to him recording a video. Police allegations stated that Bhardwaj and others surrounded and assaulted the man, who suffered injuries to his head. The case subsequently included provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act after a supplementary statement was recorded by the complainant.

Bhardwaj was arrested in September after the allegations surrounding the incident gained wider attention. He had initially faced charges under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, while provisions of the SC/ST Act were later added to the case. The Patiala House Court subsequently granted him interim bail on September 15 for three weeks. The court made clear that his conduct during the period would be considered before a decision was taken on his application for regular bail.

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While granting interim relief, the court imposed several restrictions on Bhardwaj. He was directed not to post, publish or discuss the case, his defence or the complainant's family on social media or other media platforms. He was also barred from contacting the complainant, his daughter or any witness and was directed not to interfere with evidence in the case. The court had emphasised that bail was an expression of the court's trust and “not a trophy to be displayed”, while also cautioning against any public celebration following his release.

The court's decision to grant regular bail came after the three-week interim period concluded without reports of a violation of the conditions imposed earlier. A report on Tuesday said the court granted regular bail after noting that there had been no violation of the interim-bail conditions. The detailed order was expected to provide further details about the terms attached to the regular bail. Grant of bail does not amount to a finding on the allegations, which remain subject to the ongoing legal proceedings.

The proceedings have drawn attention because the alleged assault took place during a protest organised by the CJP at Jantar Mantar and subsequently led to demands for Bhardwaj's arrest. The case also involves allegations under the SC/ST Act, making the legal proceedings subject to additional statutory provisions. The court had earlier stressed that questions arising from the allegations would ultimately be determined through the judicial process and evidence rather than public or social-media commentary. With regular bail now granted, the case will continue through the remaining legal proceedings.

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