Influencer Arrested Amid Public Outcry
Self-styled influencer Swatantra Bhardwaj has been arrested and sent to one-day police custody by Patiala House Court. The action, ordered by Additional Sessions Judge Saurabh Pratap Singh Laler, follows months of public outrage and escalating pressure from political figures and a massive demonstration by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) outside the Parliament Street police station, which highlighted initial police inaction.
June Assault at Jantar Mantar Leads to Serious Charges
The arrest stems from a violent clash on June 23 at Jantar Mantar, where Bhardwaj, 21, and his associates are accused of brutally assaulting 38-year-old Sanjay Azad. Azad, a member of the Dalit community, suffered severe head trauma requiring seven stitches. His minor daughter was present during the incident.
Escalating Legal Provisions
Initially, the FIR registered on the day of the incident invoked minor BNS sections for causing simple hurt (115(2)) and wrongful restraint (126(2)). However, law enforcement has now applied stringent provisions under the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. Furthermore, a second FIR has been registered under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and relevant BNS provisions, following online rape threats and intimidation targeting Azad's minor daughter.
Victim's Account and Bhardwaj's Defense
Sanjay Azad recounted that the confrontation began when Bhardwaj and his companions challenged him for filming videos at the protest site, quickly escalating into a physical attack. Azad stated that the police initially refused to provide him with an MLC report or help. Meanwhile, Bhardwaj has defended his actions, claiming he acted in self-defense to avoid being mob-lynched, asserting he was at the site with six friends to protest against the CJP.
Political Figures Distance Themselves
Following the incident, Bhardwaj allegedly bragged on social media about his close ties to high-profile political figures, including Union Minister Chirag Paswan and Delhi Minister Kapil Mishra. Union Minister Chirag Paswan has firmly distanced himself from the influencer, lodging a formal complaint against Bhardwaj for misusing his name. Paswan emphasized the seriousness of the incident and urged the Delhi Police to conduct a fair investigation into the matter.