‘Hindutva influencer’ Swatantra Bhardwaj sent to 14-day judicial custody in CJP protester’s father assault case | Today’s news
A Delhi court on Monday sent self-proclaimed Hindutva influencer Swatantra Bhardwaj to 14-day judicial custody in a case related to the alleged assault of the father of a Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protester, according to LiveLaw.
Further Sessions Judge Saurabh Pratap Singh Laler issued the order after Bhardwaj was produced before the court after the expiry of his one-day police custody. He will now be brought to court on September 21, the portal reported.
Bhardwaj was detained in Bulandshahr in Uttar Pradesh last week, hours after the CJP staged a protest outside the Parliament Street police station demanding his arrest for alleged assault.
Bhardwaj is accused of assaulting Nisha Azad’s father, Sanjay Azad, during the CJP’s protest at Jantar Mantar in July. After the alleged attack, Bhardwaj, who describes himself as a ‘Kattar Hindu (Hard Hindu)’, confessed on the podcast to ‘cracking the skull’ of Sanjay and boasted that he had escaped from prison.
Viral video
In the video, Bhardwaj is heard talking about his attack on Kumar.
“I cracked Nishu’s father’s skull. Do you know which section this crime attracts? Section 307. He needed 60 stitches. The man was taken away by ambulance in a serious condition. His daughter was standing outside the police station saying she would die by suicide if her father didn’t get justice. But I wasn’t even jailed,” said the world and should know about it via Bwaj video. I was outside.
SC/ST Act, provisions on intimidation added
Provisions of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and criminal intimidation were added to the FIR against Bhardwaj for allegedly attacking Sanjay Kumar.
Delhi Police had earlier said that Sanjay Kumar’s injuries were “simple” in nature and were caused by a steel bracelet. Bhardwaj later claimed in a podcast that he acted in self-defense.
Fresh FIR over alleged online threats
In a separate development, the police on Friday registered a fresh FIR under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses Act (POCSO) on the complaint of a minor activist. The complaint alleged online threats and harassment.
Police also reportedly invoked Section 351(3), Section 78 (stalking) and Section 79 (insulting the modesty of a woman) of the BNS along with Section 67 of the Information Technology Act.
The student had earlier claimed that she received rape threats, verbal abuse and morphed pictures after she spoke out against her father’s alleged assault and filed a police complaint.
Chandrashekhar Azad meets the police
The development came after representatives of the CJP, accompanied by Azad Samaj Party chief (Kanshi Ram) and Nagin MP Chandrashekhar Azad, met police officials at the Parliament Street police station and sought action against Bhardwaj.
The delegation also demanded that provisions of attempt to murder, intimidation and the SC/ST Act be added to the case. She also sought a separate FIR over the alleged rape threats and online abuse directed at the minor activist.
