Delhi Police have detained 21-year-old content creator Swatantra Bhardwaj in connection with the alleged assault of a 38-year-old man during a protest at Jantar Mantar in June.
Bhardwaj and others are accused of attacking Sanjay Azad, who had accompanied his 14-year-old daughter to the protest on June 23. Azad suffered head injuries and required seven stitches.
Police initially registered a case under sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita related to causing hurt and wrongful restraint. Following a recent protest by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) and other political leaders, police added provisions under the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
A separate case has also been registered under the POCSO Act and relevant BNS sections following a complaint that the minor received rape threats allegedly linked to Bhardwaj.
Controversy Over Social Media Remarks
The case gained renewed attention after Bhardwaj appeared on a video podcast and allegedly admitted to attacking Azad, claiming he had “cracked” his skull. He later described the incident as an act of self-defence.
Bhardwaj had also claimed connections with several prominent political figures. Union minister Chirag Paswan has distanced himself from him and said he filed a complaint after his name was allegedly misused.
Delhi Police said Bhardwaj was detained in Uttar Pradesh after his phone location was traced. Investigators are seeking further medical assessment of Azad’s injuries to determine whether additional charges, including attempted murder, are warranted.
The investigation is continuing, with police examining the allegations, medical records and complaints related to threats against the minor.
