Video: Activist Swatantra Bhardwaj walks out of Tihar on bail, seen rushing into car

Swatantra Bhardwaj, the right-wing influencer, walked out of Tihar Jail late Thursday after securing interim bail, with the court imposing strict conditions on his release.

In Short

• Swatantra Bhardwaj released from Tihar Jail late Thursday night
• He exited jail quickly, evading cameras amid crowd outside
• Delhi court granted three weeks interim bail with strict conditions

Right-wing activist and influencer Swatantra Bhardwaj, who was jailed in connection with the assault of the father of a student during a protest at Jantar Mantar, was released on bail from Tihar Jail late Thursday night.

Immediately after stepping out of the jail, Bhardwaj was whisked away from the premises within seconds. He rushed into a car surrounded by people who had come to receive him and sped away, with the vehicle's number plate covered.

The unusual manner of his exit from jail has sparked a debate on social media, with some defending the move as the right thing to do while others questioning why he was hurried away from the premises.

"He was not allowed to speak to the media. I believe this was the right thing to do..!!," a user wrote on X.

Another user asked, "Why are they running as if they have escaped from the jail?".

People also questioned why the car’s number plate was covered and why the police officers present allowed it.

People on the internet also questioned what they described as his early release on bail, though the central question for many remained why the vehicle's number plate was covered.

"Look at him, how he is running. He got bail so early. Pathetic justice system," a user wrote on Facebook.

Bhardwaj's release came three days after a Delhi court granted him three weeks of interim bail, while stating that his plea for regular bail would be considered after assessing his conduct during the interim period.

The sessions court imposed several conditions while granting bail. He was barred from posting, publishing or discussing the case, his defence or the complainant's family on social media or any other media platform.

The court also restrained him from contacting the complainant, his daughter or any witness, and from tampering with evidence. It observed that "bail is an expression of the court's trust, and it is not a trophy to be displayed", while cautioning against public celebrations following a release on bail.

Bhardwaj was detained in Bulandshahr on September 4, hours after the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) staged a protest outside the Parliament Street police station demanding his arrest over the alleged assault.

The action followed outrage over an interview in which Bhardwaj claimed that he had "cracked the skull" of the student activist's father during the June 23 protest and had escaped arrest because of his political connections.

He was remanded to judicial custody on September 7 and lodged in Tihar Jail. The matter is scheduled to come up before the court on October 6 for further proceedings.

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