Right-wing content creator Swatantra Bhardwaj’s lawyer has raised concerns about his safety after a Delhi court sent him to one-day judicial custody in connection with an alleged assault during a protest at Jantar Mantar.
Bhardwaj, 21, was arrested by Delhi Police after being accused of seriously injuring a 38-year-old man during a protest in June. The man was reportedly accompanied by his 14-year-old daughter at the time of the incident. The court had initially granted one day of police custody before sending Bhardwaj to judicial custody on Sunday.
Speaking to news agency ANI, Bhardwaj’s lawyer Piyush Jain said the case is currently before the Duty Metropolitan Magistrate, who does not have the authority to hear bail applications. According to Jain, the matter will subsequently be heard by the designated court dealing with cases under the SC/ST Act.
The lawyer also claimed that additional charges had been added against Bhardwaj, including provisions under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. Jain described the allegations against his client as “completely fabricated” and questioned why the SC/ST and POCSO provisions were allegedly introduced weeks after the original incident.
The most serious concern raised by the lawyer was Bhardwaj’s safety in custody. Jain claimed that he had received information suggesting that Bhardwaj could be attacked inside Tihar Jail. He alleged that certain “anti-national elements” wanted to target the content creator and urged the Central government and Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta to ensure adequate security arrangements for him.
The arrest came after a controversy surrounding a video podcast in which Bhardwaj allegedly claimed that he had “cracked the skull” of the father of a minor activist during the June 23 protest. He reportedly maintained that his actions were in self-defence.
Delhi Police later detained Bhardwaj in Uttar Pradesh’s Bulandshahr following protests by the Cockroach Janata Party outside the Parliament Street police station demanding his arrest. Police subsequently added provisions of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and criminal intimidation to the FIR.
An FIR under the POCSO Act was also registered following a complaint by the minor activist, who alleged online threats and harassment.
Bhardwaj’s lawyer has denied the allegations and said the legal proceedings will now move before the appropriate designated courts. Meanwhile, his claim regarding a possible attack in jail has added another dimension to the case, with authorities yet to publicly confirm any specific threat against the accused.
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