Days after a protestor linked to the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), Nishu Azad, bagged victory, as self-styled Hindutva influencer Swatantra Bhardwaj was arrested for allegedly manhandling her father during the Jantar Mantar protests, a complaint has been filed against the former for allegedly posting derogatory content targeting Hindu deities, saints and seers. 

Advocate Anurag Gupta filed a complaint at Delhi’s Parliament Street Police Station, alleging that Azad had used derogatory and crass language against Hindu deities. He also accused her of making objectionable remarks about saints and seers. 

Gupta said while addressing reporters, “We have filed this complaint regarding abusive remarks, including using derogatory and offensive language against our deities and making inappropriate comments about saints and seers,” adding that such remarks against Hinduism shall not be tolerated. 

Complaint seeks FIR under BNS sections

In a parallel development, Amita Sachdeva, a lawyer attached to the Supreme Court, filed a complaint at the Cyber Police Station against Azad and her father, Sanjay Azad. 

Sachdeva alleged that posts from Nishu’s ‘X’ account contained derogatory references to Lord Shiva, Lord Krishna, Goddess Saraswati and Goddess Durga. She has called for an FIR to be registered under Section 299 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhitya (BNS), concerning deliberate and malicious acts aimed at outraging religious feelings and Section 196, which deals with promoting enmity between groups on grounds including religion. 

She has also sought action against Azad under applicable provisions of the Information Technology (IT) Act, 2000. 

Sachdeva said in her complaint that she was a practising Hindu and had viewed the posts while at the Supreme Court of India in New Delhi. She claimed that the content had outraged her religious sentiments and those of other Hindus. 

As mentioned in her complaint, four posts from the ‘X’ account @Nishuazad11, uploaded between September 2023 and August 2026, allegedly insulted the said Hindu deities and religious beliefs of the Hindus. 

Father named in complaint

Sachdeva alleged that the posts were published deliberately and maliciously with the intention of outraging the religious feelings of members of the Hindu community. She also claimed to have previously sought their removal, but said the posts remained publicly accessible.

The complaint states that Nishu has identified herself as a minor. Sachdeva has named her father, Sanjay Azad, as her guardian and sought an investigation into the alleged operation of the account by a minor in his household.

She has also sought preservation of the four posts, associated media and platform records, including IP logs, device details and other electronic evidence. Further, she requested steps to prevent the alleged objectionable material from being circulated further.

Controversy erupted over Jantar Mantar clash

The complaints come amid an ongoing controversy involving Nishu Azad and self-proclaimed accused Swatantra Bhardwaj, who has admitted on camera to assaulting her father during a CJP protest at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar.

Following police complaints and FIRs, a court ordered Bhardwaj’s one-day custody. Nishu’s counsel has questioned the custody order. The allegations made in the latest complaints remain subject to police investigation, and no guilt has been established against the accused.