Judicial Custody Ordered for Swatantra Bhardwaj
In a significant development, a Delhi court has ordered the judicial custody of right-wing influencer Swatantra Bhardwaj for a period of 14 days. This decision came in connection with an alleged assault case involving the father of a Dalit student-activist during the protests organized by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) at Jantar Mantar in July.
The order was pronounced by Additional Sessions Judge (ASJ) Saurabh Partap Singh Laler, following Bhardwaj’s virtual appearance in court. Bhardwaj, who was apprehended in Uttar Pradesh on September 5, faces multiple charges including assault and violations under the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, commonly known as the SC/ST Act, as well as the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO Act).
Initial Charges and Subsequent Developments
Initially, Bhardwaj was charged under Sections 115(2) and 126(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which pertain to causing simple hurt and wrongful restraint, respectively. However, the situation escalated after Bhardwaj’s statements on social media, where he claimed to have inflicted a head injury on the girl’s father and boasted about being detained by police for only a short duration. He further claimed to have connections with prominent National Democratic Alliance (NDA) leaders, including Kapil Mishra and Chirag Paswan.
In light of these claims, Chirag Paswan distanced himself from Bhardwaj, filing a separate complaint against him for unauthorized use of his name. The incident prompted further protests from CJP leaders, along with the student-activist and her father, at the Parliament Street police station, which led to the addition of more serious charges and Bhardwaj’s subsequent arrest.
Legal Actions and Current Status
Bhardwaj has since filed a Habeas Corpus petition with the Delhi High Court, asserting that his arrest was unlawful and advocating for his release. This legal move underscores the contentious nature of the case and Bhardwaj’s continued efforts to challenge his custody through judicial avenues.
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The case continues to garner attention, with social media and public discourse reflecting the polarized opinions surrounding the incident. As legal proceedings advance, the outcome of Bhardwaj’s petition and related judicial decisions will be closely monitored by stakeholders and the public alike.
