Chirag Paswan Files Complaint Against Swatantra Bharadwaj Over ‘Misuse’ of His Name (Video)

Union minister and Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) chief Chirag Paswan has filed a police complaint against Swatantra Bharadwaj, objecting to what he described as the “misuse” of his name in connection with an alleged assault during a protest at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar. Paswan said Bharadwaj’s claims of political connections were incorrect and called for a fair investigation into the matter.

The complaint comes amid a growing controversy over a viral podcast interview in which Bharadwaj allegedly spoke about assaulting Sanjay Kumar, the father of student activist Nishu Azad, during a protest. He also referred to several political leaders, including Paswan, while claiming he had political support. Swatantra Bharadwaj Detained in Bulandshahr Over Alleged Assault on CJP’s Nishu Azad’s Father.

Chirag Paswan Fumes at Swatantra Bharadwaj, Files Complaint

LJP Files Complaint Against Swatantra Bhardwaj

Chirag Paswan Denies Personal Association

Speaking to reporters in Patna on Friday, Paswan said Bharadwaj had wrongly used his name and rejected any suggestion that the two were personally known to each other. Paswan said meeting and interacting with people was part of political life but did not mean that he personally knew every person who claimed an association with him.

He said he had filed the complaint because the matter was serious and urged Delhi Police to conduct an impartial investigation. Paswan also expressed support for Nishu Azad and her family. ‘Bring Rahul Gandhi, Entire Opposition’: Swatantra Bharadwaj’s Defiant Remark Amid Nishu Azad Row (Video).

Controversy Over Viral Podcast

The row centres on a video interview in which Bharadwaj allegedly claimed that he had “cracked the skull” of Sanjay Kumar during the Jantar Mantar protest and had avoided arrest because of his political connections. In the same interview, Bharadwaj reportedly referred to Paswan and Delhi minister Kapil Mishra as people close to him. The claims have not been independently verified.

Bharadwaj later offered a different account, saying the incident was an act of self-defence. He claimed he feared he could have been attacked by a mob and said the podcast clip circulating on social media did not accurately represent what he had said.

Delhi Police Rejects Political Interference

Delhi Police has rejected allegations that political influence was used to protect Bharadwaj. New Delhi DCP Sachin Sharma said claims of “undue influence or interference” in the case were factually incorrect and baseless.

Police said Sanjay Kumar suffered a head injury during a scuffle and that the injury was assessed as simple at RML Hospital. According to police, Bharadwaj and another man, Suraj Kumar, had initially been detained at the protest site, questioned and served notices.

Swatantra Bharadwaj Detained in Bulandshahr

The case took another turn on Friday when Delhi Police traced Bharadwaj to Bulandshahr in Uttar Pradesh. Earlier reports said he fled from Naithla village on a Bullet motorcycle toward Khurja before a police team could reach him. Several teams were subsequently deployed to locate him. Later reports said police took him into custody in Bulandshahr in connection with the Jantar Mantar assault case.

The development followed a protest by members of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) outside Parliament Street police station, where they demanded Bharadwaj’s arrest and stronger legal action.

Protesters Seek Stronger Charges

CJP representatives have demanded that provisions relating to attempt to murder, the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and criminal intimidation be added to the case. The group has also sought a separate FIR over alleged online abuse and threats directed at Nishu Azad following the controversy. Police have assured the protesters that the matter would be investigated and that further legal action would follow as warranted.

The complaint filed by Paswan adds another dimension to the controversy, with the Union minister making clear that his name and alleged political association should not be used to suggest protection from legal action.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 04, 2026 07:59 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).