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

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

A Delhi Sessions Court on Thursday remanded social‑media influencer **Swatantra Bhardwaj** to judicial custody for a period of one day in connection with the assault on a protester at Jantar Mantar. The incident, which took place on 30 January 2024, involved a group of Dalit activists who were demonstrating against the Supreme Court’s decision on the *Brahminical* caste‑based reservations. One of the demonstrators, identified as a supporter of the Chief Justice of India (CJI), alleged that Bhardwaj and a few of his associates violently assaulted him, throwing stones and causing injuries. Bhardwaj was arrested the following day under sections of the Indian Penal Code relating to criminal assault and provocation of a public disturbance.

During the hearing, the court noted that the prosecution had produced a medical report confirming the victim’s injuries and several video clips showing a confrontation between Bhardwaj’s followers and the protesters. The magistrate, however, granted only a brief custodial period, citing Bhardwaj’s cooperation with the investigation and the lack of a prima facie case for a longer remand. He was ordered to appear before the investigating officer on 6 September 2026. Bhardwaj’s legal counsel argued that the arrest was politically motivated, contending that the influencer had merely exercised his right to free speech while documenting the protest. The CJI activist, meanwhile, lodged a separate complaint alleging that stones were hurled at Bhardwaj’s residence shortly after his detention, a claim that police are currently verifying.

The episode has drawn further political attention after **Union Minister Chirag Paswan** filed a formal complaint alleging “misuse of his name” in statements made by Bhardwaj during the protest. Paswan, a prominent Dalit leader, said that Bhardwaj’s rhetoric wrongly implied endorsement of his political agenda, potentially harming the minister’s reputation. Delhi Police have opened a parallel inquiry into the alleged name misuse, while Dalit rights groups have condemned the arrest as an attempt to silence dissent. The case continues to be monitored closely by civil‑society organisations and legal observers, who stress the need for a transparent investigation that respects both the right to protest and the rule of law.