Hindutva Influencer Swatantra Bhardwaj Arrested, Sent to Police Custody

Bhardwaj was detained in Bulandshahr, Uttar Pradesh, hours after Delhi Police assured protesters he would be arrested within 72 hours.

He was produced before a court and remanded to one day of police custody. Bhardwaj has maintained he acted in self-defense. The arrest followed demonstrations outside Parliament Street Police Station. Supporters of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) gathered, demanding his arrest and objecting to provisions under the SC/ST Act in the FIR. Security was tightened around the police station.

Bhardwaj was booked under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and charges of criminal intimidation. A fresh FIR was registered against Bhardwaj under the POCSO Act following a complaint by the minor CJP protester alleging online threats and harassment. The initial FIR stated Azad alleged Bhardwaj and aides attacked him after he questioned them about making a video.

Bhardwaj claimed in a podcast he had 'cracked the skull' of Nishu Aazad's father and bragged about political connections. The FIR has been amended with sections of the SC/ST Act and criminal intimidation. A case under the POCSO Act has been lodged as the minor showed posts and messages from Bhardwaj and associates containing rape threats.

Bhardwaj was detained from Uttar Pradesh's Bulandshahr on Friday. The grant of one-day custody raised questions, with counsel for the protester noting the judge was presented via video conferencing at his residence.