Self-styled Hindutva influencer Swatantra Bhardwaj, who hogged limelight overnight for boasting on camera that he had “cracked the skull” of the father of a student during the Cockroach Janata Party’s (CJP) protest at Jantar Mantar in Delhi in July, was detained in Bulandsahr in Uttar Pradesh on Friday, September 4, after CJP members staged a sit-in at Parliament Street police station in New Delhi earlier in the day.
Bhardwaj had admitted with glee in a recent podcast that he had assaulted Sanjay Azad, the father of student activist Nishu Azad, during the protest at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar. He had reportedly been evading arrest after Delhi Police assured members of Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) that action would be taken against him within 72 hours.
The 21-year-old influencer, who describes himself as a ‘Kattar Hindu (hardline Hindu)’, came under scrutiny after a video clip from the podcast surfaced, showing him speak about attacking Sanjay Azad and claiming that he had “cracked the skull” of Nishu’s father. In the same conversation, Bhardwaj also said Sanjay Azad required 60 stitches and was taken to hospital in a serious condition.
“I cracked the skull of Nishu’s father. Do you know which section this crime attracts? Section 307 (murder). He needed 60 stitches. The man was being taken away in an ambulance in serious condition. 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 is heard saying in the podcast video that was watched by millions of people in India and abroad on social media.
These remarks triggered a political controversy and renewed protests by CJP supporters, who demanded Bhardwaj’s immediate arrest and strict legal action.
‘Acted in self-defence’
As the demand for his arrest grew, Bhardwaj offered a different account of the incident, telling journalists on camera that he had acted to protect himself after being surrounded by a group of protesters.
He claimed that between 10 and 15 people had surrounded him and alleged that he could have been beaten to death had he not defended himself. Bhardwaj also claimed he possesses video footage that supports his version of events.
He also claimed that medical reports prepared by Delhi Police did not show serious injuries among the people involved in the confrontation and said he was cooperating with the investigation.
Nishu Azad is a CJP activist
Nishu Azad, a student activist associated with CJP, became prominent following the confrontation involving her father at Jantar Mantar. Her father, Sanjay Azad, sustained head injuries during the clash. Nishu subsequently protested outside the Parliament Street Police Station, joined by political figures including Chandra Shekhar Aazad, demanding action against those allegedly responsible.
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Nishu had earlier attracted attention during a CJP demonstration at Jantar Mantar, where videos showed her distributing food as part of the protest. Nishu allegedly suffered online abuse, including rape threats directed at her by alleged supporters of Bhardwaj. The investigation into those allegations are on, said police.
CJP’s fresh protests led to arrest
A massive flash protest organised by hundreds of CJP members outside Parliament Street police station in New Delhi on Friday, September 4, led to Bharadwaj’s arrest. The agitation, led by CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke, spokesperson Saurav Das and co-convenor Ashutosh Ranka, sparked severe political and legal tensions over the viral video containing the Hindutva influencer’s claims.
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CJP’s protests outside the police station was for four main demands: the immediate arrest of Swatantra Bhardwaj; upgrading the FIR charges against Bharadwaj to include attempted murder; applying strict sections of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act against him; and the prosecution of DCP Sachin Sharma of Delhi for alleged inaction and allowing Bharadwaj to roam free for two months.
