Swatantra Bhardwaj Gets Regular Bail After Three-Week Interim Relief in CJP Protest Assault Case
A Delhi court granted regular bail to influencer Swatantra Bhardwaj in the Jantar Mantar assault case after reviewing his conduct during a prior three-week interim relief period. Bhardwaj was arrested from Uttar Pradesh on September 5 for allegedly assaulting the father of a Dalit student-activist during CJP protests at Jantar Mantar in July.
A Delhi court on Tuesday, October 6, granted regular bail to right-wing influencer Swatantra Bhardwaj in connection with a case involving the alleged assault of a student-activist’s father during Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protests at Jantar Mantar. Additional Sessions Judge (ASJ) Saurabh Pratap Singh Laler of the Patiala House Court passed the order after evaluating his conduct during a prior three-week interim bail period.
Background and Arrest
Bhardwaj was arrested from Uttar Pradesh on September 5 for allegedly assaulting the father of a Dalit student-activist during CJP protests at Jantar Mantar in July, reports Bar and Bench. Swatantra Bhardwaj Gets 3-Week Interim Bail in Jantar Mantar Assault Case.
He was booked for offences including assault and provisions under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act [SC/ST Act], alongside a separate FIR registered invoking provisions of the Protection of Children from S*xual Offences (POCSO) Act. In the initial FIR, Bhardwaj was lightly booked under Sections 115(2) (causing simple hurt) and 126(2) (wrongful restraint) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
Controversy escalated after Bhardwaj took to social media claiming he had cracked the student's father's skull and was released after brief police detention. Following protests by CJP leaders, the victim, and his daughter outside the Parliament Street police station, heavier charges were added and Bhardwaj was taken into custody. Prior to securing relief, his habeas corpus petition challenging the legality of his arrest was dismissed by the Delhi High Court. Swatantra Bhardwaj Detained: Fresh FIR Filed Against Social Media Influencer Under POCSO Act.
Arguments Before the Court
During the legal proceedings, advocate Umesh Chandra Sharma appeared for Bhardwaj and argued that he was arrested by the Delhi Police due to political reasons, asserting that it was the complainant who actually initiated the attack. Sharma maintained that video evidence showed the complainant attacking Bhardwaj, yet no police action had been taken against the complainant. Opposing the plea, advocate Swati Khanna - representing the complainant -stated that Bhardwaj used casteist slurs against the complainant and had explicitly admitted on video that he was responsible for the assault.
Conditions of Release
When granting the initial interim relief, the trial court had imposed strict oversight, barring Bhardwaj from posting about the case on social media or contacting witnesses, while emphasizing that "bail is an expression of the court's trust, and it is not a trophy to be displayed". Having satisfied the court regarding his conduct during the interim phase, Bhardwaj has now been granted regular bail.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 06, 2026 03:16 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
