Swatantra Bhardwaj Detained – The Delhi Police Crime Branch has detained self-styled “influencer” Swatantra Bhardwaj from Bulandshahr in western Uttar Pradesh following widespread outrage over a viral video podcast. In the clip, Bhardwaj boastfully admitted to assaulting the father of a young protester during a Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) demonstration at Jantar Mantar, claiming he “cracked the skull” of the victim and avoided jail due to political influence.
Swatantra Bhardwaj Detained – Viral Video Boasts Trigger Protests Outside Parliament Street Police Station
The detention came hours after leaders from the CJP, Indian Youth Congress, and Lok Sabha MPs Chandra Shekhar and Rajesh Ranjan marched to the Parliament Street police station, demanding immediate legal action. In the viral podcast, Bhardwaj claimed he should have been charged with attempt to murder (Section 307) after the victim allegedly required 60 stitches. He also claimed that a phone call from a prominent politician kept him out of custody, sparking severe backlash across political and social media spheres.
Swatantra Bhardwaj Detained – POCSO and SC/ST Act Provisions Added as Case Intensifies
Following negotiations with protesting delegations, police invoked provisions under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act in the primary assault FIR. Furthermore, a separate FIR was registered under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and sections dealing with criminal intimidation after the minor protester reported receiving online rape threats from Bhardwaj’s supporters.
Swatantra Bhardwaj Detained – Accused Retracts Claims as Political Leaders Distance Themselves
Faced with impending arrest, Bhardwaj attempted to row back his podcast statements, describing the incident as an act of self-defense and alleging the viral video was edited out of context. Meanwhile, Union Minister Chirag Paswan—one of the political figures referenced in public discourse—firmly rejected any association with Bhardwaj, calling the assault unacceptable and demanding strict judicial action