Social media 'influencer' Swatantra Bhardwaj arrested over alleged assault

Social media 'influencer' Swatantra Bhardwaj arrested.

NEW DELHI: Social media 'influencer' Swatantra Bhardwaj has been arrested by Delhi Police, a day after he was detained in Uttar Pradesh in connection with an alleged assault on the father of a minor activist during CJP protest. He was produced at the residence of concerned judge at Karkardooma Court complex on Saturday, according to news agency ANI.

The development came as security was tightened outside the Parliament Street police station after supporters of Bhardwaj gathered there to stage a protest. Barricades were put up at strategic points around the police station and paramilitary personnel were deployed as a precautionary measure, a police officer said.

Bhardwaj was detained in Bulandshahr, Uttar Pradesh, on Friday, hours after representatives of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) met Delhi Police officials and demanded his arrest. He is accused of assaulting the father of a minor activist during a CJP-led protest at Jantar Mantar in July.

A fresh FIR was also registered against Bhardwaj under the POCSO Act following a complaint by the minor activist alleging online threats and harassment. The case invokes provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Information Technology Act.

Delhi Police on Friday also added provisions of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and criminal intimidation to the FIR relating to the alleged assault. The action followed backlash over an interview in which Bhardwaj claimed that he had "cracked the skull" of the minor activist's father during the July 20 protest. He later claimed in a podcast that he had acted in self-defence.

Delhi Police had earlier said the injuries suffered by Sanjay Kumar were "simple" in nature and were caused by a steel bracelet. The CJP had staged a protest outside the Parliament Street police station on Friday, demanding action against Bhardwaj. The group had also sought the addition of attempt-to-murder, criminal intimidation and SC/ST Act provisions to the case.

Police said adequate security arrangements had been made outside the station in view of the possibility of a gathering of Bhardwaj's supporters.