Swatantra Bharadwaj Detained in Bulandshahr Over Alleged Assault on CJP’s Nishu Azad’s Father
The Delhi Police took self-described activist and social media influencer Swatantra Bhardwaj into custody on Friday from Uttar Pradesh's Bulandshahr district. The detention follows allegations of Bhardwaj assaulting Sanjay Kumar, the father of student activist Nishu Azad, during a Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) demonstration at Jantar Mantar.
Delhi Police detained activist Swatantra Bharadwaj in Uttar Pradesh’s Bulandshahr on Friday in connection with the alleged assault of Sanjay Azad, father of student activist Nishu Azad, during a Cockroach Janta Party protest at Jantar Mantar in July. The development came after a video clip from a podcast in which Bharadwaj allegedly spoke about the incident circulated widely on social media, according to a report.
Delhi Police Trace Swatantra Bharadwaj to Bulandshahr
A Delhi Police team reached Bulandshahr after investigators traced Bharadwaj’s location to the district. According to police sources, he was located in Naithla village. However, reports later said that he left the area before the police team could formally take him into custody. ‘Bring Rahul Gandhi, Entire Opposition’: Swatantra Bharadwaj’s Defiant Remark Amid Nishu Azad Row (Video).
Bharadwaj reportedly travelled towards Khurja on a Bullet motorcycle while wearing a helmet. Several Delhi Police teams in plain clothes were subsequently deployed to trace him. Police also questioned local journalists during their efforts to establish his movements and whereabouts.
Controversy Over Jantar Mantar Incident
The case relates to an altercation during a CJP protest at Jantar Mantar on July 20. Bharadwaj came under scrutiny after a podcast clip circulated on social media in which he allegedly claimed that he had “cracked the skull” of Sanjay Azad during the confrontation. The remarks prompted the Citizens for Justice and Peace (CJP) and other political and social groups to demand police action against him. Swatantra Bharadwaj Viral Video: Activist Claims Jantar Mantar Clash Was Self-Defence.
Swatantra Bharadwaj Says He Acted in Self-Defence
Bharadwaj has subsequently offered a different account of the incident, saying that he acted in self-defence. He has claimed that he was surrounded by a group of people during the protest and was struck on the head, prompting his response. He has also said that he has video evidence supporting his version of events. The competing accounts are part of the ongoing police investigation.
CJP Demands Stronger Action
Members of the CJP held a protest outside the Parliament Street police station on Friday, demanding action against Bharadwaj. The group sought stringent charges in connection with the alleged assault and also raised allegations concerning threats and online abuse directed at Nishu Azad. Police had earlier assured the protesters that action would be taken against Bharadwaj within 72 hours.
Police Search Continues
With Bharadwaj reportedly leaving Bulandshahr before the police team could apprehend him, officers have intensified efforts to locate him. The investigation will seek to establish what happened during the Jantar Mantar confrontation and assess the claims made by both sides. Further legal action will depend on the evidence collected by the police.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 04, 2026 07:00 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
