Opposition targets BJP after viral video shows influencer claiming political protection in assault case

NEW DELHI: Opposition parties have targeted the BJP after a video surfaced in which self-styled influencer Swatantra Bhardwaj claimed that a phone call from Delhi minister Kapil Mishra helped him avoid jail after he allegedly attacked the father of a student protester.

Bhardwaj has been accused of assaulting Sanjay Kumar, the father of student activist Nishu Azad, during a Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protest at Jantar Mantar.

In the video, Bhardwaj appears to speak about the alleged attack and claims to have the backing of several political leaders, including Mishra, Union minister Chirag Paswan and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi questioned why Bhardwaj was not jailed and asked whether he enjoyed political protection.

"I cracked the skull of Nishu's father. Do you know which section this crime attracts? Section 307. He needed 60 stitches. The man was being taken away in an ambulance in a serious condition. His daughter was standing outside the police station and saying that she would die by suicide if her father didn't get justice. But I was not even jailed. The world should know this. I was out and about through the night," Bhardwaj is heard saying in the video.

"I have the blessings of Hanuman. Secondly, Kapil Mishra is my elder brother. They say Kapil Mishra called and I was released. Chirag Paswan is my elder brother. How many leaders do you know? Do you know Modi ji? Modi ji is also my elder brother. I have everyone's support," he says.

News agency PTI contacted Mishra and Paswan for their response but received no reply.

Delhi Police later rejected claims that Kumar had suffered a fractured skull or serious injuries. In a post on X, the office of the deputy commissioner of police, New Delhi, said Kumar had suffered a head injury from a kada, or bangle, worn by one of the men involved in a scuffle.

"On 23.06.2026, at Jantar Mantar, during the CJP protest, Sanjay Kumar (38), a resident of Ghaziabad, sustained a head injury by Kada worn by one of the alleged during a scuffle.

"He was medically examined by doctors of RML Hospital, and the injuries were opined to be simple in nature. The injuries were made by kada and not by any weapon. The misinformation regarding crack in skull is not supported by facts/ MLC and is completely baseless," the post said.

Police said a case was registered at Parliament Street police station on Kumar's statement.

"They were detained from the site and during investigation, Suraj Kumar (24) and Swatantra Bhardwaj (21) were served notices as per law and were interrogated. Due legal action has been taken, and chargesheet would be filed before the competent court soon.

"Any allegation of undue influence or interference in the matter is factually incorrect and baseless. The matter has been dealt with strictly in accordance with law and procedures," it said.

Around the time the police issued the statement, Bhardwaj posted a photograph of himself on Instagram showing his kada, with the caption "Feel the power!"

The controversy has drawn support for Azad from opposition parties, including the Congress, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Trinamool Congress (TMC). Gandhi said the student was being targeted for raising her voice over the rights of her community and students.

"Nishu, there's no need to panic. I'm with you. It's clear that you're being targeted because you raise your voice for the rights of your community and students. Amit Shah's Delhi Police, on one hand, commits inhuman brutality against students. On the other hand, the criminal who smashed the head of a Dalit girl's father is roaming freely in the open."

Tagging Prime Minister Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, he asked, "Why does such a criminal have the protection of you and the people in your party? Will there be action now, or will you keep shielding someone?"

Gandhi was responding to a post by Azad in which she said she hoped the opposition leader would help deliver justice. "I will fight and I will win this battle," she wrote.

Earlier, after Bhardwaj's video went viral, Azad had expressed concern about the safety of herself and her family. "I'm worried about my and my family's safety, but I won't be scared -- I will continue my fight against injustice and casteism. @DelhiPolice is not taking any action, and we hope that all the opposition leaders will deliver justice to me, a daughter of the Dalit community," she wrote on X.

AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal also shared Bhardwaj's video on X and attacked PM Modi. "You absolutely must watch this video. Your blood will boil. Did heroes like Bhagat Singh sacrifice their lives for this, that one day the country would get a prime minister who would openly protect such thugs?" Kejriwal asked.

TMC Lok Sabha MP Mahua Moitra questioned Home Minister Amit Shah over the allegations and said a movement demanding his resignation should continue.

"So shouldn't the movement for Amit Shah's resignation continue? Isn't he responsible? Sept 5 March was called off because 20 odd Delhi FIRs were recalled but isn't this also part of the brutality which will go unaccounted for?" Moitra asked.

The CJP has demanded action against Bhardwaj and questioned why Delhi Police had not acted on what it described as an "open admission". The outfit said its members would reach Parliament Street police station at 10am on Friday to seek justice for Kumar and Azad.

Responding to the announcement, Azad said, "I will be coming with my father."

Kumar was attacked during the CJP protest at Jantar Mantar in July, when his daughter was participating in and documenting the student agitation. CJP spokesperson Saurav Das alleged that Kumar's "skull was cracked open" and said the nature of the wound warranted an attempt-to-murder charge. He alleged that police had refused to add the charge to the FIR.

Das said an attempt-to-murder charge would have led to Bhardwaj's immediate arrest because it is a cognisable and non-bailable offence. He alleged that deputy commissioner Sachin Sharma and Assistant Commissioner Ajay Sharma had refused the demand and asked the protesters to "go get a court order".

Das also questioned whether Mishra should be named in the case over the alleged phone call. "So tell us, why should (minister Kapil) Mishra not be made an accomplice in the FIR since he illegally interfered with the course of justice? Why should he not resign for protecting gang members and abusing his office? Does BJP's leadership support this?" Das wrote on X.

Bhardwaj has a sizeable social media following, with 1.84 lakh users following his Instagram account. His profile describes him as a "Swatantra Sanatani Yodha". He has posted several videos targeting people participating in the CJP agitation.

In a video posted during the July 20 protest, he called the protesters "terrorists" and "cockroaches" and demanded that "staunch sanatanis" like him be allowed to act as Delhi Police personnel for a day.

The latest controversy has put renewed focus on the police handling of the assault case and on Bhardwaj's claims that he has political connections. Delhi Police has denied any undue influence or interference, saying the case has been handled according to law and that a chargesheet will be filed before the competent court.