Swatantra Bhardwaj Sent to Judicial Custody Till September 21 in Jantar Mantar Assault Case
Swatantra Bhardwaj has been sent to judicial custody till September 21 in connection with an alleged assault case linked to a protest at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar.
A Delhi court on Monday sent self-styled right-wing influencer Swatantra Bhardwaj to 14-day judicial custody in a case concerning the alleged assault on a man during a student-led protest at Jantar Mantar in June.
Bhardwaj was produced before Additional Sessions Judge Saurabh Pratap Singh Laler of the Patiala House Court through video conference. With the latest order, he will remain in judicial custody until September 21.
The case relates to an alleged assault on Sanjay Kumar, the father of a teenage student activist, during a protest organised at Jantar Mantar on June 23. Bhardwaj has been accused of beating and injuring Kumar during the demonstration.
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Arrest Followed Protest Outside Police Station
Bhardwaj was detained from Uttar Pradesh’s Bulandshahr on Friday after representatives and supporters associated with the protest group staged a demonstration outside Delhi’s Parliament Street police station, demanding action against him in the assault case.
Following his detention, he was produced before the court on Saturday. The Delhi Police sought his custodial interrogation, and the court allowed one day of police custody.
On Sunday, Bhardwaj was subsequently sent to one-day judicial custody. The court on Monday extended his judicial custody for 14 days, until September 21.
Police Add SC/ST Act and Criminal Intimidation Provisions
The Delhi Police have also added provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and criminal intimidation to the FIR registered in connection with the alleged assault.
The additional charges were included as the investigation into the incident continued.
The case gained wider attention after a video podcast involving Bhardwaj triggered controversy. In the video, he allegedly made claims about seriously injuring the father of the teenage activist during the Jantar Mantar protest.
Bhardwaj later maintained that he had acted in self-defence.
Police had earlier stated that the injuries suffered by the complainant were simple in nature. According to the earlier police assessment, the injuries were allegedly caused during the incident involving a steel bracelet.
Separate POCSO Case Also Registered
In a separate development, police have registered another FIR under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act following allegations made by the minor student activist.
The complaint reportedly concerns online threats, harassment, abusive messages and other alleged content targeting the teenager after she spoke publicly about the incident involving her father.
Police have also reportedly invoked relevant provisions relating to criminal intimidation, harassment and online publication of objectionable material as part of the separate case.
The teenage activist had earlier alleged that she received rape threats, verbal abuse and morphed images after raising her voice over the alleged assault and approaching the police.
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Delegation Had Sought Stronger Action
The recent developments came after representatives of the protest group met police officials at Parliament Street police station along with Azad Samaj Party (Kanshi Ram) chief and Nagina MP Chandrashekhar Azad.
The delegation demanded stronger legal action in the assault case and also sought action over the alleged online threats and harassment faced by the teenage activist.
With the court extending Bhardwaj’s judicial custody until September 21, the investigation into both the alleged Jantar Mantar assault and the separate complaint concerning online harassment remains ongoing. Further legal proceedings will depend on the findings of the Delhi Police investigation and subsequent court hearings.
