Activist Swatantra Bhardwaj was detained by a police team in Uttar Pradesh’s Bulandshahr on Friday on charges of allegedly assaulting the father of a student protestor during a demonstration led by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) at Jantar Mantar in the national capital in July this year, the police said. 

He was detained near Dhamra Nara village after the cops traced him to the district. He had reportedly fled from the Naithla village on a bike to evade the police. 

His detention comes amid mounting political pressure over the alleged assault on Sanjay Kumar, father of student protester Nishu Azad. The case was brought back into the spotlight after a podcast clip surfaced in which Bhardwaj appeared to boast about assaulting Kumar.

The incident relates to a Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) protest against alleged examination paper leaks at Jantar Mantar on June 23. Delhi Police has said Kumar suffered a head injury during a scuffle at the demonstration.

What happened at Jantar Mantar?

According to the FIR, Kumar was recording the protest on his mobile phone when an argument broke out over the filming.

The complaint alleged that the confrontation escalated after two to three other men joined in and assaulted him. Kumar claimed he was punched on the head and struck with a hard object resembling an iron bangle. He was subsequently taken to RML Hospital, where doctors recorded two lacerated wounds on his head.

Delhi Police registered a case against Bhardwaj and Suraj Kumar under Sections 115(2), 126(2) and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.

However, police have disputed claims that Kumar suffered a skull fracture, saying his medical report described the injuries as simple and did not support the more serious claims made subsequently.

Podcast clip reignites controversy

The case returned to the spotlight after a podcast clip showed Bhardwaj claiming that he had “cracked” Kumar’s skull and that the victim required around 60 stitches.

“Do you know which section this crime attracts? Section 307, attempt to murder. He was almost dying in the ambulance,” Bhardwaj was heard saying in the clip.

He also claimed that he had not been sent to jail and appeared to suggest that he had political connections.

The remarks triggered demands for his arrest from the CJP and Opposition parties. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi questioned why Bhardwaj was not in jail and alleged that he was receiving political protection.

Delhi Police rejected allegations of political interference, maintaining that the investigation had been conducted in accordance with legal procedure.

Political pressure builds

CJP leaders Ashutosh Ranka and Saurav Das, along with Congress representatives and Nagina MP Chandrashekhar Azad, approached the Parliament Street Police Station and demanded action against Bhardwaj.

Following discussions lasting around two hours, police added relevant provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act to the case.

Police also agreed to obtain a further medical opinion before deciding whether an attempt-to-murder charge should be added. The viral podcast clip is also expected to be examined as part of the investigation.

Congress leader Abhishek Singhvi said police had assured the delegation that Bhardwaj would be arrested within 72 hours. The assurance also covered alleged online threats against Nishu Azad.

Bhardwaj claims self-defence

Bhardwaj has denied deliberately attacking Kumar, claiming that he acted in self-defence after being surrounded by 10 to 15 people. “What people are calling an attack was an act of self-defence. If I had not acted in self-defence, I could have been lynched by the mob or killed,” he said.

Bhardwaj also claimed to possess video evidence supporting his version of events. He alleged that the podcast clip circulated by Rahul Gandhi and others was “fake” and denied receiving political protection.

Police are expected to question Bhardwaj about the alleged assault, his remarks in the podcast and his claims of political influence.