New Delhi, September 15, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
The Patiala House Court on Tuesday granted three weeks’ interim bail to self-styled influencer Swatantra Bhardwaj, who is in judicial custody in connection with the alleged assault of the father of a minor activist during a protest at Jantar Mantar.
Additional Sessions Judge Saurabh Pratap Singh Laler passed the order granting Bhardwaj interim relief. The development came a day after the court reserved its order on his regular bail application.
During Monday’s hearing, the court questioned the Delhi Police about whether Bhardwaj had used caste-indicative language during the alleged incident. The prosecution told the court that the initial complaint did not contain any such allegation. It said the claim emerged later when the complainant’s statement was recorded again, following which provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act were added to the FIR.
Bhardwaj’s counsel sought bail, while the prosecution opposed the plea.
Bhardwaj has been accused of assaulting Sanjay Kumar, father of a minor protester, during a demonstration at Jantar Mantar in July. Police had earlier described Kumar’s injuries as “simple” and said they were allegedly caused by a steel bracelet.
The FIR invokes provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and sections relating to criminal intimidation.
Bhardwaj was arrested in Uttar Pradesh’s Bulandshahr district on September 4, hours after representatives of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) met senior Delhi Police officials and demanded his arrest. The Patiala House Court had subsequently declined an out-of-turn hearing on his bail plea and listed the matter for September 14.
The Delhi High Court had earlier dismissed a habeas corpus petition challenging his arrest. A Bench comprising Justices Navin Chawla and Ravinder Dudeja rejected the petition after the Delhi Police submitted that it was not maintainable as Bhardwaj had already been remanded to judicial custody.
The CJP had also sought an attempt-to-murder charge against Bhardwaj. Police said the provision would be considered after obtaining an expert medical opinion.
A separate FIR has been registered against Bhardwaj under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act following a complaint by the minor activist, who alleged online rape threats and harassment.
The controversy followed a purported viral video in which Bhardwaj allegedly claimed that he had physically assaulted the minor activist’s father during the Jantar Mantar demonstration and said he was spared because of his “political connections”. Bhardwaj later told the media that he had allegedly acted in self-defence.
Union Minister and Lok Janshakti Party-Ram Vilas (LJP-RV) chief Chirag Paswan said his name had been “misused” by Bhardwaj in the purported video. Paswan said he had filed an official complaint against Bhardwaj and would ensure justice for the minor victim and her family.
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