Delhi court reserves order on Swatantra Bhardwaj bail plea; verdict Tuesday
Synopsis
The Patiala House Court has reserved its bail order for self-styled influencer Swatantra Bhardwaj — arrested over the alleged assault of a minor activist's father at Jantar Mantar — with the verdict due Tuesday. The case now carries multiple FIRs including POCSO and SC/ST Act charges, a High Court dismissal of his habeas corpus bid, and a political dimension after Union Minister Chirag Paswan denied any association with him.
Key Takeaways
Patiala House Court reserved its order on Swatantra Bhardwaj's bail plea on 14 September ; verdict expected Tuesday .
Court questioned Delhi Police on whether caste-indicative language was used; police said this was not part of the original complaint.
Bhardwaj faces charges under the BNS , SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act , criminal intimidation, and a separate POCSO FIR.
He was arrested in Bulandshahr, Uttar Pradesh on 4 September , hours after Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) demanded his detention.
Delhi High Court earlier dismissed his habeas corpus petition, with Justice Navin Chawla and Justice Ravinder Dudeja citing non-maintainability.
Union Minister Chirag Paswan denied association with Bhardwaj and filed a formal complaint against him.
A Delhi court on Monday, 14 September 2026 reserved its order on the regular bail application filed by self-styled 'influencer' Swatantra Bhardwaj, currently in judicial custody over the alleged assault of Sanjay Kumar — father of a minor activist — during a demonstration at Jantar Mantar in July. The Patiala House Court is expected to pronounce its verdict on the bail plea on Tuesday.
Key Developments in Court
During Monday's hearing, the court pointedly questioned Delhi Police on whether Bhardwaj had used caste-indicative language during the alleged incident. The police submitted that the original complaint contained no such reference, and that the allegation surfaced only when the complainant's statement was recorded a second time — after which provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act were added to the First Information Report (FIR).
Bhardwaj's counsel argued in favour of bail, while the prosecution opposed the application. The court reserved its order without granting interim relief.
The Charges Against Bhardwaj
The FIR against Bhardwaj invokes provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, and sections relating to criminal intimidation. Police had earlier characterised the injuries sustained by Sanjay Kumar as 'simple' in nature, allegedly caused by a steel bracelet worn by Bhardwaj.
A separate FIR was also registered against Bhardwaj under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, on the complaint of the minor activist herself, who alleged online rape threats and harassment.
The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) has also demanded that an attempt-to-murder charge be invoked, with Delhi Police stating that such a provision would be considered after obtaining an expert medical opinion.
Arrest, High Court Rejection and Background
Bhardwaj was arrested in Uttar Pradesh's Bulandshahr district on 4 September, hours after CJP representatives met senior Delhi Police officials and formally demanded his detention. The arrest came following the circulation of a purported viral video in which Bhardwaj allegedly claimed to have physically assaulted the minor activist's father at Jantar Mantar — and further claimed he was released owing to his 'political connections'. Bhardwaj subsequently told media that he had allegedly acted in self-defence.
The Delhi High Court, in an earlier ruling, dismissed a habeas corpus petition filed by Bhardwaj challenging his arrest. A bench of Justice Navin Chawla and Justice Ravinder Dudeja rejected the petition after Delhi Police submitted it was not maintainable, as Bhardwaj had already been remanded to judicial custody.
Notably, this hearing comes days after Patiala House Court had declined an out-of-turn hearing on the bail plea and scheduled the matter for 14 September.
Chirag Paswan's Name Invoked
The case drew additional political attention after Union Minister and Lok Janshakti Party-Ram Vilas (LJP-RV) chief Chirag Paswan stated that his name had been 'misused' by Bhardwaj in the purported video. Paswan said he filed an official complaint against Bhardwaj and vowed to ensure justice for the minor victim and her family.
What Happens Next
All eyes are now on the Patiala House Court's order on Tuesday, which will determine whether Bhardwaj remains in judicial custody or is granted bail. The outcome could have a bearing on the broader case, including the pending question of whether an attempt-to-murder charge is added following the expert medical review.
Point of View
The prosecution's case loses a significant layer. What the case also exposes is how quickly a viral video can trigger a cascade of legal action across multiple statutes: BNS, SC/ST Act, POCSO, and a habeas corpus petition — all within weeks. The political dimension, with a Union Minister publicly distancing himself and filing his own complaint, adds pressure on the judiciary to be seen as moving swiftly and impartially.
NationPress
14 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Swatantra Bhardwaj and why was he arrested?
Swatantra Bhardwaj is a self-styled social media influencer arrested on 4 September in Bulandshahr, Uttar Pradesh, in connection with the alleged physical assault of Sanjay Kumar — father of a minor activist — during a protest at Jantar Mantar in July. A purported viral video in which Bhardwaj allegedly claimed responsibility for the assault and invoked political connections triggered public outrage and demands for his arrest.
What charges does Swatantra Bhardwaj face?
Bhardwaj faces multiple charges: provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, and criminal intimidation. A separate FIR under the POCSO Act was also registered on the complaint of the minor activist, who alleged online rape threats and harassment. The Cockroach Janta Party has additionally demanded an attempt-to-murder charge, pending an expert medical opinion.
What did the Delhi High Court decide regarding Bhardwaj's arrest?
The Delhi High Court dismissed Bhardwaj's habeas corpus petition challenging his arrest. A bench of Justice Navin Chawla and Justice Ravinder Dudeja rejected the petition after Delhi Police submitted it was not maintainable, since Bhardwaj had already been remanded to judicial custody.
Why did the court question Delhi Police on caste-related language?
The Patiala House Court raised the issue because the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act was added to the FIR after the initial complaint — when the complainant's statement was recorded a second time. The court sought clarification on whether caste-indicative words were actually used at the time of the alleged assault, which is a prerequisite for the Act's applicability.
What is Chirag Paswan's connection to the Swatantra Bhardwaj case?
Union Minister and LJP-RV chief Chirag Paswan has stated that his name was 'misused' by Bhardwaj in the purported viral video. Paswan said he filed an official complaint against Bhardwaj and committed to ensuring justice for the minor victim and her family, distancing himself entirely from the accused.
