New Delhi, September 5, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
A Delhi court on Saturday sent self-styled influencer Swatantra Bharadwaj to one-day police custody in connection with the alleged assault of the father of a minor activist during a protest at Jantar Mantar.
Bharadwaj was produced before the concerned judge at the Karkardooma Court complex and was remanded to police custody for one day.
He was detained in Uttar Pradesh’s Bulandshahr district on Friday, hours after representatives of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) met senior Delhi Police officials and demanded his immediate arrest.
The arrest came amid growing pressure on the Delhi Police over its handling of the alleged assault and subsequent online threats and harassment faced by the minor activist.
According to police, Bharadwaj allegedly assaulted Sanjay Kumar, father of the minor protester, during a CJP-led demonstration at Jantar Mantar in July.
Police had earlier described Kumar’s injuries as “simple” and said they were caused by a steel bracelet. However, on Friday, the police added provisions of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and criminal intimidation to the FIR registered over the alleged assault.
The CJP had also demanded that an attempt-to-murder charge be added. Police said the provision would be considered after obtaining an expert medical opinion.
A separate FIR was registered against Bharadwaj under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act following a complaint by the minor activist, who alleged that she had been subjected to online threats and harassment. The case also includes relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Information Technology Act.
The controversy intensified after a purported viral video in which Bharadwaj allegedly claimed that he had physically assaulted Nishu Azad’s father during the Jantar Mantar protest and allegedly said he was let off because of his “political connections”. Bharadwaj later told the media that he had acted in self-defence.
Union Minister and LJP-RV chief Chirag Paswan said Bharadwaj had “misused” his name in the purported video. Paswan said he had filed an official complaint and would seek justice for the minor and her family.
“Understanding the seriousness of this matter, and because that person has misused my name along with the names of several politicians, I have filed an official complaint against him,” Paswan had said in Patna, while calling for a fair investigation.
He also said he and his party would take responsibility for ensuring justice and that the truth would emerge through the investigation.
Meanwhile, security was strengthened outside the Parliament Street Police Station after Bharadwaj’s supporters gathered there to protest. Barricades were placed at strategic points and paramilitary personnel were deployed as a precaution, a police officer said.
The CJP had held a protest outside the police station on Friday, demanding action against Bharadwaj and seeking the addition of attempt-to-murder, criminal intimidation and SC/ST Act provisions to the case.
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