Delhi Court Remands Swatantra Bhardwaj To One Day Police Custody, Complainant's Lawyer Questions... - Live Law

**Delhi Court Sends Influencer Swatantra Bhardwaj to One‑Day Police Custody** The Delhi Sessions Court on Thursday remanded Swatantra Bhardwaj, a self‑styled Hindutva influencer, to a single day of police custody pending further investigation into an alleged assault at Jantar Mantar. The case stems from a protest that turned violent on 7 March, during which the complainant, a young activist, claimed Bhardwaj and a group of supporters struck him with a baton. Police seized Bhardwaj’s mobile devices and a few weapons, and he was arrested the following day under sections of the Indian Penal Code pertaining to voluntarily causing hurt and unlawful assembly. The court’s order, issued after hearing arguments from both the prosecution and defence, stipulates that Bhardwaj be produced before the investigating officer within 24 hours and that any further interrogation be conducted in accordance with established procedural safeguards.

During the hearing, the complainant’s counsel, senior advocate Ramesh Kumar, questioned the adequacy of the evidence presented and warned that a brief custodial period might not allow investigators to fully trace digital footprints that could link Bhardwaj to the alleged assault. Kumar argued that the prosecution’s reliance on a single eyewitness and a handful of video clips, some of which were of low quality, left “significant gaps” in establishing a clear chain of causation. The defence, on the other hand, maintained that Bhardwaj’s presence at the protest was lawful and that any alleged violence was the act of “unknown agitators,” urging the court to grant bail on the grounds of his clean record and lack of prior criminal history.

The custody decision arrives amid a broader wave of legal scrutiny targeting social‑media personalities who blend political commentary with on‑ground activism. Earlier this week, former MP Chirag Paswan lodged a formal complaint alleging that Bhardwaj had been misusing his name and reputation to amplify divisive content, a claim that has added a political dimension to the ongoing investigation. Media outlets, including *The Hindu*, *The Times of India*, NDTV, and Scroll.in, have been tracking the case, highlighting concerns over the intersection of free expression, digital influence, and public order. As the investigation proceeds, the Delhi police have pledged to submit a detailed report within the custodial timeframe, while civil‑rights groups continue to monitor the case for potential implications on freedom of speech and the rights of protestors.