Self-styled influencer Swatantra Bhardwaj was detained in Uttar Pradesh on Friday in connection with the alleged assault on the father of student activist Nishu Aazad during a protest at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar , police said, adding that he tried to escape but was caught later.
Police dispute skull fracture claim
Bhardwaj was detained in Bulandshahr. Follow live updates related to CJP’s protest over Bhardwaj here. Officials maintained that the investigation was continuing and a chargesheet would be filed. Further investigation would determine whether an attempt-to-murder charge was warranted. Chandrashekhar Azad accused the police of failing to act despite Bhardwaj’s public statements about the incident. He alleged that the accused was intimidating the victim and posting material that could disturb communal harmony.
Police said he had tried to escape but was caught, HT has learnt. The move came amid mounting pressure on Delhi Police following a viral video of an interview in which Bhardwaj appeared to claim that he had “cracked the skull” of Nishu’s father, Sanjay Kumar, during the July 20 protest. Police had said Bhardwaj and another accused, Suraj Kumar, were detained at the Jantar Mantar protest, questioned and served notices. A police source said the victim would undergo another medical examination after the SC/ST Act was added to the case.
The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) had staged a protest outside the Parliament Street police station on Friday, demanding Bhardwaj’s arrest.
