Right-wing Influencer Swatantra Bhardwaj Detained Following Assault Allegations
3 sources · India
Who reported this
- Scroll.in
- The Indian Express
- Hindustan Times
What the colours mean
- Left
- Centre-left
- Centre
- Centre-right
- Right
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Every source for this story reports from India.
Self-styled influencer Swatantra Bhardwaj was detained on Friday in connection with an alleged assault on Sanjay Kumar, the father of student activist Nishu Azad. Reports indicate Bhardwaj was detained in Bulandshahr, Uttar Pradesh, after an attempted escape. The incident occurred during a July protest at Jantar Mantar in Delhi organized by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP).
The detention followed a viral podcast clip in which Bhardwaj appeared to claim he cracked Kumar's skull and avoided jail due to the support of BJP leaders, including Kapil Mishra. In the video, he suggested the attack warranted a charge of attempted murder under Section 307 of the Indian Penal Code. Following the video's release, CJP members staged a protest at the Parliament Street police station, demanding Bhardwaj's arrest and the inclusion of the SC/ST Act in the FIR. Police eventually added sections pertaining to the SC/ST Act to the case.
Bhardwaj later denied the remarks in the video, calling the clip fake. He claimed that he acted in self-defence to avoid being lynched by a mob and stated he hit Kumar on the head with a kada, or iron bracelet. He further asserted that he would act similarly if cornered again. Delhi Police disputed the claim of a skull fracture, describing the injury as a simple head injury sustained during a scuffle.
The event has drawn political attention, with Congress MP Rahul Gandhi alleging that Home Minister Amit Shah was protecting Bhardwaj. CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke has called for the prosecution of DCP Sachin Sharma, alleging police inaction due to political bias. Bhardwaj, who describes himself as a Sanatani Yodha and a kattar Hindu, has a social media presence where he has posted videos warning CJP protesters.
How each side framed it
- Left
- Framed the incident as an attack by a Hindutva influencer and emphasized the role of political protection from ministers.
- Centre
- Focused on the legal proceedings and the specific demands of the protesters regarding the FIR.
- Centre-right
- Provided detailed context on Bhardwaj's social media persona and highlighted the police's dispute of the skull fracture claim.
Sources
- Centre-right Hindustan Times: 'Sanatani Yodha': Who is Swatantra Bhardwaj, self-styled influencer at centre of assault row
- Centre-right Hindustan Times: Self-styled influencer Swatantra Bhardwaj, accused of assault at CJP protest, detained after escape bid in UP: Cops
- Centre-right Hindustan Times: ‘Will strike again if…’: Self-styled influencer says acted in ‘self-defence’ amid row over assault at CJP protest
- Centre-right Hindustan Times: Influencer Swatantra Bhardwaj backtracks on ‘cracking skull’ remark, calls it ‘self defence’
- Centre-right Hindustan Times: 'Sanghi goon still free': Dipke demands DCP Sharma's prosecution over inaction against Hindutva influencer
- Left Scroll.in: Hindutva influencer who allegedly assaulted CJP protester’s father detained
- Centre The Indian Express: ‘Influencer’ Swatantra Bhardwaj detained over alleged attack on CJP protester’s father
100% of the statements in this article were traced back to the source articles listed above.