Delhi court gives influencer Swatantra Bhardwaj 3-week interim bail in Jantar Mantar assault case
Synopsis
A Delhi court handed influencer Swatantra Bhardwaj three weeks of interim bail on Tuesday — his first legal relief since a 4 September arrest linked to a viral video in which he allegedly boasted of assaulting a minor activist's father at Jantar Mantar. With charges spanning the SC/ST Act, BNS, and a separate POCSO FIR, and Union Minister Chirag Paswan publicly distancing himself, the case has grown well beyond a street-level altercation.
Key Takeaways
Patiala House Court granted Swatantra Bhardwaj three weeks' interim bail on 15 September 2026 , one day after reserving its order on his regular bail plea.
Bhardwaj is accused of assaulting Sanjay Kumar , father of a minor activist, at Jantar Mantar in July .
The FIR includes provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) , the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act , and criminal intimidation sections; SC/ST clauses were added after a second recording of the complainant's statement.
A separate POCSO FIR was registered on the minor activist's complaint alleging online rape threats and harassment.
Union Minister Chirag Paswan denied any association with Bhardwaj, stating his name was 'misused' in a viral video, and filed an official complaint.
The Delhi High Court had earlier dismissed Bhardwaj's habeas corpus petition challenging his arrest, calling it not maintainable after he was remanded to judicial custody.
The Patiala House Court on Tuesday, 15 September 2026, granted three weeks' interim bail to self-styled influencer Swatantra Bhardwaj, who has been in judicial custody in connection with the alleged assault of Sanjay Kumar — father of a minor activist — during a demonstration at Jantar Mantar in July. Additional Sessions Judge Saurabh Pratap Singh Laler passed the interim relief order a day after the court reserved its decision on Bhardwaj's regular bail plea.
Background: What Led to the Arrest
The controversy traces back to a purported viral video in which Bhardwaj allegedly claimed he had physically assaulted the father of a minor activist at the Jantar Mantar protest and boasted of being released owing to his 'political connections.' Bhardwaj subsequently told reporters he had allegedly acted in self-defence. Union Minister and Lok Janshakti Party-Ram Vilas (LJP-RV) chief Chirag Paswan distanced himself from the episode, stating his name was 'misused' in the video, and said he had filed an official complaint against Bhardwaj while vowing justice for the minor victim and her family.
Bhardwaj was arrested in Uttar Pradesh's Bulandshahr district on 4 September, hours after representatives of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) met senior Delhi Police officials and demanded his arrest. The Delhi High Court had earlier dismissed a habeas corpus petition filed by Bhardwaj challenging the arrest, with a bench of Justices Navin Chawla and Ravinder Dudeja rejecting the plea after police submitted that it was not maintainable since Bhardwaj had already been remanded to judicial custody.
Key Legal Developments at Monday's Hearing
During Monday's hearing, the court questioned the Delhi Police on whether Bhardwaj had used caste-indicative language at the time of the alleged incident. The prosecution submitted that the initial 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 FIR. Bhardwaj's counsel sought bail; the prosecution opposed.
The FIR currently invokes relevant 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 the victim as 'simple' in nature, allegedly caused by a steel bracelet.
Additional Charges and CJP Demands
A separate FIR has also been 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 CJP had further demanded the addition of an attempt-to-murder charge; police stated that the provision would be considered after obtaining an expert medical opinion.
Notably, the Patiala House Court had earlier declined an out-of-turn hearing on Bhardwaj's bail plea and listed the matter for 14 September — making Tuesday's bail grant the first substantive relief for the accused since his arrest.
What Happens Next
With three weeks' interim bail now in hand, Bhardwaj's regular bail application remains pending before the court. The prosecution's position on the SC/ST Act provisions — and whether caste-based language was indeed used — is expected to be a critical flashpoint at the next hearing. The outcome of the expert medical opinion on the attempt-to-murder question could also reshape the charge sheet substantially.
Point of View
The viral video — in which the accused allegedly claimed physical assault and cited 'political connections' — has made this a visibility flashpoint for social media accountability, with a sitting Union Minister publicly filing a complaint. The POCSO angle, largely underreported, may prove the legally stickiest dimension of the entire case.
NationPress
15 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was Swatantra Bhardwaj arrested?
Swatantra Bhardwaj was arrested on 4 September 2026 in Bulandshahr, Uttar Pradesh, in connection with the alleged assault of Sanjay Kumar, father of a minor activist, during a demonstration at Jantar Mantar in July. A viral video in which Bhardwaj allegedly claimed responsibility for the assault and cited his 'political connections' triggered public outrage and demands for his arrest.
What charges does Swatantra Bhardwaj face?
Bhardwaj faces charges under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, and criminal intimidation provisions. A separate FIR under the POCSO Act was also registered on the complaint of the minor activist, who alleged online rape threats and harassment.
Why was the SC/ST Act added to the FIR against Bhardwaj?
The SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act provisions were added after the complainant's statement was recorded a second time, which included an allegation of caste-indicative language. The prosecution informed the court that the initial complaint did not mention any such language, a point the court itself raised during Monday's hearing.
What is Chirag Paswan's connection to the Swatantra Bhardwaj case?
Union Minister and LJP-RV chief Chirag Paswan stated that his name was 'misused' by Bhardwaj in the viral video, and denied any association with him. Paswan said he filed an official complaint against Bhardwaj and pledged to ensure justice for the minor victim and her family.
What happens next in the Swatantra Bhardwaj case?
Bhardwaj has been granted three weeks' interim bail; his regular bail application remains pending before the Patiala House Court. The court is also awaiting an expert medical opinion before deciding whether to add an attempt-to-murder charge, as demanded by the Cockroach Janta Party.
