Delhi court sends Swatantra Bhardwaj to judicial custody for 14 days in Jantar Mantar assault case - Bar and Bench

**Delhi Court Sends Influencer Swatantra Bhardwaj to 14‑Day Judicial Custody in Jantar Mantar Assault Case**

A Delhi Sessions Court on Tuesday ordered that Swatantra Bhardwaj, a self‑styled “influencer” and vocal pro‑Hindutva commentator, be placed in judicial custody for 14 days. The ruling follows a charge‑sheet filed by Delhi police that alleges Bhardwaj took part in an assault on a protester at Jantar Mantar on 20 December 2022, when a crowd gathered to demonstrate against the appointment of a new Chief Justice of India. The police case, registered under Sections 323 (voluntarily causing hurt) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code, contends that Bhardwaj, along with several other right‑leaning activists, used physical force and threats to subdue a dissenting demonstrator, causing injuries that required medical attention.

Bhardwaj had approached the Delhi High Court seeking relief from the arrest, arguing that the police “had the audacity to travel to Bulandshahr to apprehend him” and that the investigation was politically motivated. The High Court rejected his petition, noting that the evidence presented — including video footage, eyewitness statements and forensic reports — substantiated the prosecution’s claim that Bhardwaj was actively involved in the melee. In its order, the lower court cited the seriousness of the alleged offence and the risk of tampering with evidence as grounds for keeping the accused in judicial custody rather than granting bail.

Legal analysts observing the case say the decision underscores the judiciary’s willingness to intervene when allegations of political violence surface, regardless of the accused’s ideological leanings. The matter now proceeds to trial, where the prosecution will seek a conviction under the applicable sections of the IPC. Meanwhile, civil‑rights groups have called for a swift and transparent adjudication, emphasizing that any perceived bias—whether in favour of or against a particular political camp—could erode public confidence in the rule of law.