Delhi High Court rejects Habeas Corpus plea by Swatantra Bhardwaj against his arrest for Jantar Mantar assault - Bar and Bench

**Delhi High Court Rejects Habeas Corpus Plea of Swatantra Bhardwaj in Jantar Mantar Assault Case**

The Delhi High Court on September 7 dismissed a habeas corpus petition filed by Swatantra Bhardwaj, a self‑styled Hindutva influencer, challenging his arrest in connection with the violent clash that erupted at a Jantar Mantar protest on August 26. Bhardwaj, who was apprehended by Delhi police on charges of assaulting journalists covering the demonstration, argued before the bench that his detention was unlawful and that the police had overstepped their jurisdiction by travelling to his hometown of Bulandshahr to execute the arrest. The court, however, held that the petition was premature; the police had produced a valid arrest memo and there was no indication that Bhardwaj’s liberty had been infringed beyond the scope of the law.

In its order, the bench noted that the factual matrix surrounding the Jantar Mantar incident—including video footage and eyewitness testimony—substantiated the FIR lodged against Bhardwaj for “voluntarily causing hurt to a public servant” and “obstructing a public servant while in the discharge of his duty.” Consequently, the judges remanded Bhardwaj to **14 days of judicial custody**, pending further investigation and trial. The court also directed the investigating agency to file a detailed report within ten days, emphasizing that the custodial period was intended to facilitate the collection of additional evidence rather than to punish the accused.

The decision arrives amid heightened scrutiny of law‑enforcement actions during recent protests targeting the Chief Justice of India’s remarks on the judiciary. Media outlets, including *The Times of India*, *The Hindu*, *Live Law*, and *Hindustan Times*, have reported that several protesters were detained, and the Jantar Mantar episode has sparked a broader debate over press freedom, the right to protest, and the use of preventive arrests. Bhardwaj’s legal team has indicated they will consider filing a review petition, while rights groups continue to monitor the case for any signs of procedural irregularities.