New Delhi: The Delhi Police on Saturday secured one-day custody of self-styled “influencer” Swatantra Bharadwaj, who is accused of assaulting the father of a minor activist during a protest at Jantar Mantar, after producing him before a judge at the Karkardooma Court complex.
Bhardwaj was produced before the concerned judge on Saturday and sent to one day of police custody.
He was detained in Uttar Pradesh’s Bulandshahr district on Friday, hours after representatives of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) met senior Delhi Police officials and demanded his immediate arrest.
The development came amid mounting pressure on the Delhi Police over its handling of the alleged assault and subsequent online threats and harassment of the minor activist.
According to the police, Bharadwaj is accused of assaulting Sanjay Kumar, father of the minor protester, during a CJP-led demonstration at Jantar Mantar in July.
Delhi Police had earlier said the injuries suffered by Kumar were “simple” in nature and were caused by a steel bracelet. However, the police on Friday added provisions of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and criminal intimidation to the FIR registered in connection with the alleged assault. The demand for invoking an attempt-to-murder charge was also raised by the CJP, with police stating that the provision would be considered after obtaining an expert medical opinion.
A fresh FIR was also registered against Bharadwaj under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act on the complaint of the minor activist, who alleged online threats and harassment.
The case also invokes relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Information Technology Act.
The controversy had erupted after a purported viral video in which Bharadwaj allegedly claimed that he had physically assaulted the father of minor activist Nishu Azad during the Jantar Mantar demonstration and allegedly boasted that he was let off because of his “political connections”.
Amid the outrage, Bharadwaj later told the media that he had acted in self-defence.
Union Minister and LJP-RV chief Chirag Paswan had also said that his name was “misused” by Bharadwaj in the purported video. Paswan said he had filed an official complaint against Bharadwaj and would ensure justice for the minor victim and her family.
“Understanding the seriousness of this matter, and because that person has misused my name along with the names of several politicians, I have filed an official complaint against him. At the same time, I have urged the Delhi Police that there should be a fair investigation into this matter,” he had told reporters in Patna.
He had further said: “Me and my party takes the responsibility to ensure justice for them because allegations have been put on me that may be due to my support, along with that of other politicians; action was not taken against the accused. So now we will ensure that the truth comes out and also ensure strict punishment for the accused who was openly mocking the legal system.”
The development came as security was tightened outside the Parliament Street Police Station after supporters of Bharadwaj gathered there to stage a protest. Barricades were put up at strategic points around the police station and paramilitary personnel were deployed as a precautionary measure, a police officer said.
The officer said adequate security arrangements had been made outside the station in view of the possibility of a gathering of Bharadwaj’s supporters.
The CJP had staged a protest outside the police station on Friday, demanding action against Bharadwaj and seeking the addition of attempt-to-murder, criminal intimidation and SC/ST Act provisions to the case.
(IANS)
