CJP Protest: Delhi Police Detains Swatantra Bharadwaj, Adds SC/ST Charges | Above the Fold | Sept 4, 2026
The detention followed a viral video and protests that pushed activists to seek attempt-to-murder and caste-law charges in the case.
- On Friday, Delhi Police detained self-styled Hindutva influencer Swatantra Bhardwaj in Bulandshahr, Uttar Pradesh, shortly after assuring Cockroach Janta Party protesters he would be arrested within 72 hours.
- Bhardwaj is accused of assaulting Sanjay Kumar, the father of student activist Nishu Aazad, during a July 20 protest at Jantar Mantar against alleged examination irregularities.
- A viral video showed the influencer claiming he 'cracked the skull' of Kumar; Bhardwaj later denied the remarks as 'fake,' asserting he acted in 'self-defence' to avoid being 'lynched by the mob or killed.'
- Demanding charges of attempted murder and invocation of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Prevention of Atrocities Act, CJP protesters received police assurances of arrest within 72 hours.
- With around 187,000 Instagram followers, Bhardwaj describes himself as a 'Swatantra Sanatani Yodha' and has posted numerous videos targeting the CJP-led agitation at Jantar Mantar.
13 Articles
13 Articles
CJP protest: Delhi police detains Swatantra Bharadwaj, adds SC/ST charges | Above the Fold | Sept 4, 2026
A protest by the Cockroach Janta Party outside a Delhi police station has led to upgraded charges in the case involving the alleged assault on student activist Nishu Aazad’s father, Sanjay. The accused, Swatantra Bharadwaj, was detained hours after Delhi Police assured protesters that he would be arrested within 72 hours. What happens next in the case? Also in focus: Manipur Deputy Chief Minister Losii Dikho’s warning over renewed Naga-Kuki viol…
Man Who Bragged About Hitting Student's Father At CJP Protest Detained, Faces SC/ST Atrocities Act
Case blew up after video clip went viral in which Swatantra Bhardwaj, a self-described "kattar (hardline) Hindu", claimed to have "cracked the skull" of Nishu's father. Congress, CJP, Chandrashekhar Aazad had reached police station.
Influencer Swatantra Bhardwaj detained after 'bragging' he 'cracked the skull' of CJP protester's father
Swatantra Bhardwaj is accused of attacking Nishu Azad's father, Sanjay Azad, during a CJP protest in July. After the attack, Bhardwaj, who describes himself as a 'Kattar Hindu (hardline Hindu)', admitted to 'cracking the skull' of Sanjay in a podcast.
Who Is Swatantra Bhardwaj? Influencer Detained By Police In Nishu Aazad Protest Row
<p class="isSelectedEnd">Self-styled Hindutva ‘influencer’ Swatantra Bhardwaj has become the centre of a political row after a podcast surfaced in which he appeared to admit assaulting Sanjay Kumar, the father of student protester Nishu Aazad. Bhardwaj has since denied making the remarks, calling the video “fake”.</p> <p class="isSelectedEnd">Bhardwaj, who has a sizeable social media following, has posted several videos targeting the CJP-led agi…
Hindutva influencer Swatantra Bhardwaj held hours after viral video
Hindutva influencer Swatantra Bhardwaj has been detained in Bulandshahr, Uttar Pradesh, following assurances from Delhi Police to protesters. He was wanted for allegedly assaulting the father of a student activist during a July protest in Delhi, an incident that gained traction after a video of him boasting about it went viral.
Chirag Paswan objects to ‘misuse’ of his name by Swatantra Bharadwaj, files complaint
Chirag Paswan filed a complaint against Swatantra Bharadwaj for podcast remarks. Bharadwaj allegedly admitted to assaulting a student activist's father at Jantar Mantar. Paswan stated his name was misused and called for a fair investigation. Swatantra Bharadwaj has since been taken into police custody. The CJP had been pressing for Bharadwaj's arrest and added FIR provisions.
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