News india FIR Lodged Against ‘Influencer’ Swatantra Bhardwaj Under POSCO Over Rape Threats To Minor, Yet To Be Arrested
Last Updated:September 05, 2026, 07:46 IST
Swatantra Bhardwaj, accused of attacking a CJP protester’s father at Jantar Mantar, is yet to be arrested, said Delhi Police sources
Self-styled ‘influencer’ Swatantra Bhardwaj (File image/ANI)
Swatantra Bhardwaj, a self-styled “influencer” who purportedly admitted to having attacked the father of a young CJP protester during the recent Jantar Mantar protests in Delhi, is yet to be arrested. However, he has been in detention since Friday afternoon, sources told CNN-News18.
The Delhi Police has registered a fresh FIR under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act based on a complaint, while also invoking sections of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (SC/ST) Act, said sources.
Bhardwaj’s detention followed protests by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), Indian Youth Congress, and Lok Sabha MPs Chandra Shekhar and Rajesh Ranjan protested at Parliament Street police station in New Delhi on Friday, September 4.
The 21-year-old ‘influencer’ and others are accused of attacking a man named Sanjay Azad, who had accompanied his minor daughter to Jantar Mantar protests on June 23.
During a recent podcast, Bhardwaj made boastful claims about the alleged attack on the protester’s father, while also claiming to have the backing of several leaders including Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Kapil Mishra and Union Minister Chirag Paswan.
“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”.
Bharadwaj claimed that despite the incident, he didn’t go to jail and roamed freely.
“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 was 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 said.
Chirag Paswan Seeks FIR Against Bhardwaj
The Lok Janshakti Party (LJP-Ram Vilas), headed by Chirag Paswan, on Friday filed a complaint at the Parliament Street Police Station against Swatantra Bhardwaj. The party alleged that the ‘influencer’ falsely invoked the Union Minister to claim political protection.
Seeking an FIR on the matter, the LJP-Ram Vilas requested the police to place on record that the party has no connection with the matter.
Speaking to reporters, Paswan said it would set a wrong precedent if no action is taken against Bhardwaj, who openly admitted to have attacked the father of a minor girl.
#WATCH | Patna, Bihar: On the case related to CJP activist Nishu Azad, Union Minister Chirag Paswan says, “The incident is extremely serious. The way one individual is openly admitting to having beaten someone so severely that it could potentially have resulted in their… pic.twitter.com/1VNnoNtAcq— ANI (@ANI) September 4, 2026
“Given the gravity of the matter and since that individual has misused my name, along with the names of several other politicians, I have lodged a formal complaint against him and have also urged the Delhi Police to conduct an impartial investigation… “
He asserted that strict action should be taken against the person who is “openly making a mockery of the law”, while also extending support to the victim and his family.
“Given the situation Sanjay ji (Nishu’s father) is in today, both my party and I stand firmly with him and his family. Ensuring justice for them is a responsibility that both I and my party fully accept… we will ensure that the truth comes to light and that appropriate action is taken as soon as possible against the person who is openly making a mockery of the law…”
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Quick AnswersPowered by
Ask News18Why was an FIR lodged against Swatantra Bhardwaj?
An FIR was lodged against Swatantra Bhardwaj under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and sections of the SC/ST Act following a complaint related to rape threats to a minor. This occurred after he purportedly admitted to attacking the father of a CJP protester during the Jantar Mantar protests in Delhi.
What did Swatantra Bhardwaj claim about the attack on Sanjay Azad?
Swatantra Bhardwaj claimed in a podcast that he “cracked the skull of Nishu’s father,” referring to Sanjay Azad, who needed 60 stitches. He also boasted about not being jailed despite the incident and claimed to have the backing of political leaders like Kapil Mishra and Chirag Paswan.
How did Chirag Paswan respond to Swatantra Bhardwaj’s claims?
Union Minister Chirag Paswan’s party, LJP-Ram Vilas, filed a complaint against Swatantra Bhardwaj, alleging that the influencer falsely invoked Paswan’s name to claim political protection. Paswan stated that strict action should be taken against Bhardwaj for openly admitting to the attack and misusing his name.
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Meemansa ShekhawatSub-editor
A Journalism graduate, Meemansa Shekhawat is a sub-editor at News18. Driven by a keen interest in news, she is a passionate writer with specialisation in national and international affairs. You can re…Read More
September 05, 2026, 07:22 IST
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