New Delhi, September 7, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
The Delhi High Court will hear on Monday a habeas corpus petition filed by self-styled influencer Swatantra Bhardwaj, who is in custody in connection with the alleged assault of the father of a minor activist during a protest at Jantar Mantar.
The matter was mentioned before Chief Justice D.K. Upadhyaya by Bhardwaj’s counsel, advocate Umesh Sharma, who argued that his client had been in custody for three days and that the arrest was illegal. The court allowed the request for urgent listing of the plea.
According to the petition, Bhardwaj’s arrest and subsequent detention are unlawful and he should be released immediately.
The plea was filed a day after a Delhi court remanded Bhardwaj to one day of judicial custody following the completion of his one-day police custody. Duty Judicial Magistrate First Class Anjali Singh passed the order after Bhardwaj appeared before the court through video conferencing. Delhi Police had sought 14 days of judicial custody.
Bhardwaj 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.
Police have accused him of assaulting Sanjay Kumar, father of a 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 later expanded to include provisions of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and criminal intimidation.
The CJP has also demanded an attempt-to-murder charge, while police said the provision would be considered after an expert medical opinion.
A separate FIR was registered under the POCSO Act following the minor activist’s complaint alleging online rape threats and harassment. Relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Information Technology Act have also been invoked.
Bhardwaj’s counsel has accused police of bypassing established legal procedures while obtaining police remand, particularly by producing him through video conferencing before a different designated SC/ST court.
The controversy began after a purported viral video in which Bhardwaj allegedly claimed responsibility for assaulting the minor activist’s father and referred to political connections. Bhardwaj later told the media that he had acted in self-defence.
Union Minister and LJP-RV chief Chirag Paswan said his name had been “misused” by Bhardwaj in the purported video and said he had filed a complaint, assuring that justice would be pursued for the minor and her family.
The CJP has also protested outside Parliament Street Police Station, demanding further charges against Bhardwaj.
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