New Delhi, September 6, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
A Delhi court on Sunday remanded self-styled influencer Swatantra Bharadwaj to one day of judicial custody in connection with the alleged assault of the father of a minor activist during a protest at Jantar Mantar.
Duty Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC) Anjali Singh passed the order after Bharadwaj was produced before the court through video conferencing. The Delhi Police had sought 14 days of judicial custody, but the court ordered one day.
Bharadwaj had earlier been placed in one-day police custody after being produced before the concerned judge at the Karkardooma Court complex on Saturday. He was detained in Uttar Pradesh’s Bulandshahr district on Friday, shortly after representatives of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) met senior Delhi Police officials and demanded his arrest.
According to the police, Bharadwaj allegedly assaulted Sanjay Kumar, father of the minor protester, during a CJP-led demonstration at Jantar Mantar in July. Police initially described Kumar’s injuries as “simple” and said they were caused by a steel bracelet.
The FIR was subsequently expanded to include provisions of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and criminal intimidation. The CJP has also demanded that an attempt-to-murder charge be invoked. Police said the provision would be considered after receiving an expert medical opinion.
A separate FIR has been registered under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act following the minor activist’s complaint alleging online threats and harassment. The case also includes relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Information Technology Act.
The controversy followed a purported viral video in which Bharadwaj allegedly claimed to have assaulted the minor activist’s father and referred to his political connections. Bharadwaj later told the media that he had acted in self-defence.
Union Minister and Lok Janshakti Party-Ram Vilas chief Chirag Paswan said his name had been “misused” by Bharadwaj in the purported video. Paswan said he had lodged an official complaint and would work to ensure justice for the minor and her family.
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