Self-styled ‘influencer’ Swatantra Bhardwaj was arrested by Delhi Police on Saturday over the attack on the father of a Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protester during the July agitation at Jantar Mantar in Delhi.
His arrest came hours after his detention in Uttar Pradesh’s Bulandshahr on Friday, following protests by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), Indian Youth Congress, and Lok Sabha MPs Chandra Shekhar and Rajesh Ranjan at Parliament Street police station in New Delhi.
Bhardwaj was subsequently produced before the Patiala House Court.
Rishabh Ranjan, counsel for the victim and his daughter, told CNN-News18: “His hearing was very surprising. We were waiting, but he was not produced before the court. We only received information that Swatantra was produced through
video conferencing before the Special Judge at his residence. We were told that one day of police custody has been granted, but we do not have any other details at this point.”
“We don’t even know what sections have been added”, he said.
Earlier, sources told CNN-News18 that the Delhi Police registered a fresh FIR under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act based on a complaint, while also adding sections of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (SC/ST) Act to the existing FIR against him.
News18 Also Covered: FIR Lodged Against ‘Influencer’ Swatantra Bhardwaj Over Attack On CJP Protester’s Father, Yet To Be Arrested
What Is The Case?
The 21-year-old ‘influencer’ and others are accused of attacking a man named Sanjay Azad, who had accompanied his minor daughter to Jantar Mantar protests on June 23.
During a recent podcast, Bhardwaj claimed that he had “cracked the victim’s skull open”, adding that he enjoyed the backing of several political leaders, including BJP leader Kapil Mishra and Union Minister Chirag Paswan.
“I cracked the skull of Nishu’s father. Do you know which section this crime attracts? Section 307. He needed 60 stitches. The man was being taken away in an ambulance in a serious condition”.
Bharadwaj claimed that despite the incident, he didn’t go to jail and roamed freely.
“His daughter was standing outside the police station and saying that she would die by suicide if her father didn’t get justice. But I was not even jailed. The world should know this. I was out and about through the night,” Bhardwaj said.
“I have the blessings of Hanuman. Secondly, Kapil Mishra is my elder brother. They say Kapil Mishra called and I was released. Chirag Paswan is my elder brother. How many leaders do you know? Do you know Modi ji? Modi ji is also my elder brother. I have everyone’s support,” he added.
Ire From Opposition, Paswan Distances Self
His remarks drew backlash from the CJP and various opposition parties, including the Congress, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), and the Trinamool Congress.
Subsequently, Chirag Paswan distanced himself from any association with the self-proclaimed ‘influencer’, stressing strict action should be taken against those who openly make a mockery the law.
Speaking to reporters, the minister said it would set a wrong precedent in the eyes of the public if no action is initiated against Bhardwaj.
#WATCH | Patna, Bihar: On the case related to CJP activist Nishu Azad, Union Minister Chirag Paswan says, “The incident is extremely serious. The way one individual is openly admitting to having beaten someone so severely that it could potentially have resulted in their… pic.twitter.com/1VNnoNtAcq
— ANI (@ANI) September 4, 2026
He also accused him of “misusing” his name. “Given the gravity of the matter and since that individual has misused my name, along with the names of several other politicians, I have lodged a formal complaint against him and have also urged the Delhi Police to conduct an impartial investigation… Given the situation Sanjay ji (Nishu’s father) is in today, both my party and I stand firmly with him and his family.”
“Ensuring justice for them is a responsibility that both I and my party fully accept… we will ensure that the truth comes to light and that appropriate action is taken as soon as possible against the person who is openly making a mockery of the law…” he added.
