‘Influencer’ Swatantra Bhardwaj detained over alleged attack on CJP protester’s father

Influencer Swatantra Bhardwaj was arrested on Friday night following allegations of assaulting a protester's father during a Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) demonstration at Jantar Mantar in Delhi. According to sources, Bhardwaj, who identifies as a self-styled influencer, left his home on a Bullet motorcycle but was eventually apprehended by the police.

The CJP had previously called for Bhardwaj's arrest, citing an incident in June where he allegedly attacked the father of a Jantar Mantar protester. Bhardwaj reportedly admitted to the attack but claimed he avoided jail due to political intervention. He also stated that the victim, Sanjay Kumar, suffered 60 stitches and was near death from a head injury.

Bhardwaj further alleged that attempted murder charges should have been filed against him. On Friday, CJP spokesperson Saurav Das and co-convenor Ashutosh Ranka led a protest from Patel Chowk to the Parliament Street Police Station in Delhi to demand Bhardwaj's arrest. The CJP initially claimed that the sections in the FIR were minor but later had sections related to the SC/ST Act added after several hours of negotiations with the police.