Influencer Swatantra Bhardwaj Arrested, Sent To One-Day Police Custody

New Delhi, Sep 5: Self-styled influencer Swatantra Bhardwaj, accused of seriously injuring a 38-year-old man during a protest at Jantar Mantar in June, was arrested and sent to one-day police custody on Saturday by a Delhi court.

The Patiala House court passed the order through Additional Sessions Judge Saurabh Pratap Singh Laler. Bhardwaj, 21, and others are accused of assaulting Sanjay Azad, who had attended the June 23 protest with his daughter.

Azad allegedly suffered serious head injuries and required seven stitches. The FIR initially registered at Parliament Street police station invoked provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita relating to causing hurt and wrongful restraint.

Following a subsequent protest by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) and others, police also invoked provisions of the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

Police additionally registered another FIR under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and relevant BNS provisions after a complaint alleging that Bhardwaj had issued rape threats against Azad’s minor daughter.

Bhardwaj has denied the allegations, claiming that he acted in self-defence during the confrontation. He had earlier been detained briefly on the day of the incident and released.

Union Minister Chirag Paswan, whose name Bhardwaj had allegedly invoked while claiming political connections, later distanced himself from him and filed a complaint. Paswan called the incident serious and sought a fair investigation.

According to the FIR, an argument began after Bhardwaj and others questioned Azad about recording a video during the protest, before the confrontation escalated into an alleged assault. (Agencies)