Delhi Police vows to arrest Swatantra Bharadwaj within 72 hours as minor Nishu Azad speaks out
Synopsis
A minor student who missed weeks of school due to rape threats from supporters of an accused assaulter finally got a police commitment — but only after a high-profile protest outside the Parliament Street Police Station. The accused, Swatantra Bharadwaj, allegedly boasted on video of using political connections to avoid arrest, making this a direct test of whether Delhi Police will act against those who claim political impunity.
Key Takeaways
Delhi Police assured the arrest of accused Swatantra Bharadwaj within 72 hours under POCSO , SC/ST Act , and attempt to murder charges.
Minor Nishu Azad said she missed school for two to three weeks due to rape threats and harassment from supporters of the accused.
A purported viral video allegedly shows Bharadwaj claiming he was released by Delhi Police due to his 'political connections'.
Azad Samaj Party MP Chandrashekhar Azad and Purnia MP Pappu Yadav joined the protest outside Parliament Street Police Station .
If arrests are not made as promised, protesters have threatened a 'gherao' of the Police Commissioner's office and the Home Ministry .
Minor student Nishu Azad, whose father was allegedly assaulted during a Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi, broke her silence on Friday, 4 September, saying she had been too ashamed to leave her home and had missed school for weeks after receiving rape threats from supporters of the accused. The Delhi Police subsequently assured protesters that accused Swatantra Bharadwaj would be arrested within 72 hours under sections of the POCSO Act, the SC/ST Act, and attempt to murder.
What Nishu Azad Said
Speaking directly to reporters, Nishu Azad described weeks of sustained harassment. 'For so many days, the people who support them were abusing me and issuing rape threats against me. I have got an FIR lodged against them... I hope the police will now take action so that I don't have to endure all this anymore,' she said.
She added: 'The way these people were abusing me, giving rape threats, and making vulgar stickers of me, I was feeling ashamed even to step out of my house. Because of this incident, I didn't go to school for two to three weeks. And when I go now, I feel like everyone is judging me.' She further noted that the police had been 'unresponsive' until the protest outside the Parliament Street Police Station compelled them to act.
The Protest and Political Backing
The assurance from Delhi Police came after a demonstration by CJP members outside the Parliament Street Police Station. The agitation drew prominent political figures, including Azad Samaj Party chief and Member of Parliament Chandrashekhar Azad, Purnia MP Pappu Yadav, and representatives of the Indian Youth Congress.
Chandrashekhar Azad warned of an escalating response if the police failed to deliver on their promise. 'Sanjay (the victim who was assaulted) and his daughter are constantly receiving threats of rape, acid attacks, and murder — they are living in fear. If this is the condition in the country's capital, you can imagine what the situation must be in rural areas,' he said. He added that if arrests were not made as promised, the party would undertake a 'gherao' of the Police Commissioner's office and, if necessary, the Home Ministry as well.
Background: The Jantar Mantar Assault Controversy
The incident traces back to a CJP protest at Jantar Mantar, during which the accused, Swatantra Bharadwaj, allegedly assaulted the father of student protester Nishu Azad. A purported viral video subsequently surfaced in which Bharadwaj allegedly claimed responsibility for the assault and boasted that he was released by the Delhi Police owing to his 'political connections' — a claim that drew widespread condemnation and intensified pressure on the police to act.
The case has raised serious questions about the safety of minor protesters and their families, and about the accountability of those who claim political impunity in the national capital.
What CJP Said After the Assurance
CJP Co-convener Saurav Das said the organisation had faith that the Delhi Police would fulfil its commitment. 'The goons will not be allowed to roam freely like this,' he told reporters. The 72-hour window set by the police means the deadline for Bharadwaj's arrest falls by 7 September. Whether the police act within that timeframe will determine the next course of action by the protesters and their political allies.
Point of View
By her own account, 'unresponsive' — and it took a public agitation with MPs present to produce a 72-hour arrest promise. The accused allegedly boasted on video of political connections shielding him; that claim has not been publicly refuted by the Delhi Police. If the arrest does not materialise by 7 September, the credibility cost falls squarely on the force. This case is also a reminder that harassment of witnesses and complainants — rape threats, vulgar stickers — routinely goes unpunished, and that the absence of swift action on such intimidation is itself a form of institutional failure.
NationPress
4 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Swatantra Bharadwaj and why is he being arrested?
Swatantra Bharadwaj is the accused in the alleged assault of the father of minor student Nishu Azad during a Cockroach Janta Party protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi. A purported viral video allegedly shows him claiming responsibility for the assault and stating that his political connections helped him avoid arrest. Delhi Police have now committed to arresting him within 72 hours under POCSO, the SC/ST Act, and attempt to murder charges.
What did Nishu Azad say about the threats she received?
Nishu Azad said she received rape threats and was subjected to vulgar stickers made by supporters of the accused, which left her too ashamed to leave her home. She told reporters she did not attend school for two to three weeks as a result, and that even on returning she felt judged by those around her.
Why did Delhi Police act only after the protest?
According to Nishu Azad, the police had been 'unresponsive' to the complaint until the CJP staged an agitation outside the Parliament Street Police Station. The protest, joined by MPs Chandrashekhar Azad and Pappu Yadav, appears to have prompted the 72-hour arrest assurance from the force.
What action has the CJP threatened if the arrest is not made?
Azad Samaj Party chief Chandrashekhar Azad warned that if arrests are not made as promised, protesters will undertake a 'gherao' of the Police Commissioner's office and, if required, the Home Ministry as well. The 72-hour deadline effectively falls by 7 September.
What charges have been filed against the accused?
The Delhi Police have confirmed that Swatantra Bharadwaj will be arrested under sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, and attempt to murder.
