Influencer Swatantra Bhardwaj Detained Following Jantar Mantar Assault Controversy

Delhi Police detained 21 year old content creator Swatantra Bhardwaj on Friday after he allegedly attacked Sanjay Kumar, the father of student activist Nishu Aazad, during a June 23 protest at Jantar Mantar. The detention occurred in Bulandshahr, Uttar Pradesh, following a massive protest by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) at the Parliament Street police station. Police updated the FIR to include charges of attempt to murder, voluntarily causing grievous hurt by dangerous weapons, and provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. Additionally, a separate FIR was filed under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act following allegations that Bhardwaj sent rape threats to the 14 year old daughter of the victim.

The controversy intensified after a video surfaced in which Bhardwaj purportedly admitted to cracking the victim's skull and claimed he avoided jail due to political connections with Union minister Chirag Paswan and Delhi minister Kapil Mishra. In response, Union minister Chirag Paswan distanced himself from Bhardwaj and filed a complaint alleging the influencer falsely used his name to suggest political backing. Paswan stated he would take full responsibility for ensuring justice for the victim's family.

There are conflicting accounts regarding the severity of the injuries. CJP representatives described the injury as a cracked skull that warranted an attempt to murder charge. Conversely, the Delhi Police and DCP Sachin Sharma stated that medical examinations at Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital categorized the injuries as simple, asserting they were caused by a metal bracelet (kada) rather than a weapon.

Separately, Supreme Court judge Justice Ujjal Bhuyan expressed grave concern over police personnel assaulting protesters at Jantar Mantar in July, describing the actions as distressing and a matter of concern regarding the credibility of the police force.