Self-styled influencer Swatantra Bhardwaj, 21, was arrested in connection with the alleged assault of 38-year-old Sanjay Azad during a protest at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar on June 23. A Patiala House court on Saturday sent Bhardwaj to one-day police custody.
The order was passed by Additional Sessions Judge Saurabh Pratap Singh Laler.
Bhardwaj was detained by Delhi Police on Friday, hours after activists of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) and other political leaders staged a protest outside the Parliament Street police station demanding action in the case.
CJP protest preceded Bhardwaj’s arrest
Azad, who belongs to the Dalit community, had attended the June 23 protest with his daughter. He alleged that Bhardwaj and others assaulted him, leaving him with injuries to his head.
The FIR registered on the day of the incident initially invoked Sections 115(2) and 126(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), relating to causing hurt and wrongful restraint.
Following the latest CJP protest, police also invoked provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
Police separately registered an FIR under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and relevant BNS provisions following a complaint alleging that Bhardwaj sent rape threats to Azad’s minor daughter.
What does Sanjay Azad allege?
Azad has alleged that he suffered seven stitches after the incident and accused the police of failing to provide him with a copy of his medical report or adequate assistance.
He also alleged that his daughter was threatened and subjected to rape threats after she began seeking action in the case.
Azad has further alleged that caste-related remarks were made during the incident and accused the attackers of attempting to seriously harm him.
These allegations are part of the ongoing investigation.
Bhardwaj claims self-defence
Bhardwaj has rejected the allegations against him and said he acted in self-defence.
Speaking to reporters, he claimed he had gone to the protest with six friends to oppose the CJP and feared being attacked by a mob.
He was briefly detained on June 23 and released the same day.
Bhardwaj later made social media claims about having connections with senior politicians, including Union minister Chirag Paswan and Delhi minister Kapil Mishra.
Chirag Paswan distances himself, files complaint
Paswan has denied any association with Bhardwaj and said he filed a complaint after the influencer allegedly used his name.
Calling the matter serious, Paswan said Bhardwaj had allegedly misused the names of several politicians and urged Delhi Police to conduct a fair investigation.
What happened at Jantar Mantar?
According to the FIR, Azad had accompanied his daughter to the protest when Bhardwaj and two to three others questioned him about making a video.
An argument allegedly followed and turned into a physical altercation, during which Azad alleged that he was assaulted.
The FIR’s medical report records two lacerated wounds — one over the right frontal region and another over the left parietal region. The nature of the injuries was stated to be pending observation.
Court sends Bhardwaj to police custody
After his detention on Friday, Bhardwaj was produced before the Patiala House court on Saturday.
The court subsequently sent him to one-day police custody as the investigation into the June assault and related allegations continues.
The case has also drawn political attention, with CJP and other leaders demanding accountability over the handling of the original complaint and the subsequent developments.
