Delhi Police detains Swatantra Bhardwaj for attacking Nishu's father
Swatantra Bhardwaj, accused of attacking student Nishu Azad's father, has been taken into custody.
Independent Bhardwaj, accused of attacking the father of student Nishu Azad during a protest at Jantar Mantar, has been taken into custody. This information was provided by the Delhi Police to the news agency PTI. The action came just hours after the Delhi Police assured the Cockroach People's Party (CJP) of Bhardwaj's arrest within 72 hours.
According to sources, the police team that went to Bulandshahr to apprehend Bhardwaj had initially been deceived by him and he had escaped. Bhardwaj came under scrutiny after a video went viral on social media, in which he appeared to claim that he had “smashed the head” of Nishu Azad's father, Sanjay Kumar, during the protest.
The CJP had been continuously demanding his arrest. Party workers had reached the Parliament Street police station on Friday, after which the police assured the protesters that action would be taken within 72 hours.
It is noteworthy that on Friday, over 100 supporters and workers of the Cockroach People's Party, along with Chandrashekhar of the Azad Samaj Party, protested at the Parliament Street police station demanding the arrest of Independent Bhardwaj. Bhardwaj, who claims to be a protector of Hindutva, had admitted that he had smashed the head of a minor girl, Nishu's father, during a protest in June at Jantar Mantar. CJP spokesperson Saurav Das, co-coordinator Ashutosh Ranka, and others marched from Patel Chowk to the Delhi Parliament Street police station demanding Bhardwaj's arrest.
Speaking to media personnel outside the police station, they said,
“Our protest is related to a minor girl. Her father is also with them. While we were peacefully protesting, some members of a criminal gang infiltrated our protest and resorted to violence. After the FIR was registered, we kept pressuring the police that this was an attempt to murder and relevant sections should be added. We also demanded that the SC/ST Act be applied as they belong to a Dalit family. But the police took no such action. When we pressured the police, they said to go to court and get an order.”
In this matter, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi also encouraged Nishu.
He stated in a post on X that,
“Nishu, you do not need to be afraid. I am with you. It is clear that you were targeted because you raise your voice for the rights of your community and students. The Delhi Police under Amit Shah is committing inhumane brutality against students on one hand, while a criminal who smashed the head of a Dalit girl's father roams freely on the other. Nishu, your fight is not alone. We will not stop until justice is served.”
It is noteworthy that Independent Bhardwaj, a right-wing activist, admitted in a podcast that he had smashed the skull of a protester. This claim is related to the incident at Jantar Mantar, where Sanjay Kumar, a resident of Ghaziabad, was injured in the head during a scuffle. In the video, Bhardwaj is seen claiming that,
“I smashed the head of the protesting student’s father. No one can arrest me. I have the blessings of BJP leader and Delhi government minister Kapil Mishra. Kapil Mishra is like my elder brother. Not only that, in the video, he is also heard claiming that PM Modi is also his elder brother.”
In the video, he is also heard saying that the person he attacked received 60 stitches and was close to death, and that a case under IPC Section 307 (attempt to murder) should have been registered against him. Bhardwaj stated that,
“I did not have to go to jail myself. I am boasting that police officers received a call from Kapil Mishra, whom they referred to as ‘elder brother’.”
Meanwhile, a dramatic scene unfolded on Friday. Under scrutiny, Bhardwaj took a U-turn and told ANI that,
“What I did was in self-defense. What people are calling an attack was an act of self-defense. If I had not taken action in self-defense, the mob would have lynched or killed me. I had no intention of attacking them. I have evidence in the form of a video. I was surrounded by 10-15 people. When I acted in self-defense, they got injured on their heads.”
The 21-year-old Bhardwaj further stated that,
“According to the Delhi Police's medical report, I did not sustain any major injuries. I am cooperating with the ongoing investigation. Those who say that I was released under Kapil Mishra's influence, I want to tell them that Kapil Mishra and Chirag Paswan are like my brothers. People should understand that what was said was in jest.”
It is noteworthy that in a nearly one-hour podcast available on YouTube, Bhardwaj stated,
“We smashed Nishu's father's head. Do you know which section applies here? Section 307—attempt to murder. He received 60 stitches on his head. His condition was almost fatal in the ambulance. His daughter stood outside the police station saying that if her father did not get justice, she would commit suicide by consuming poison. But Bhardwaj was out the very next day. I did not even go to jail.”
He said, “The whole world should know that I did not even go to jail. I roamed around all night.” He then explained why he considers himself so special.
Bhardwaj stated,
“Firstly, I have the blessings of Kapil Mishra. Kapil Mishra called and I was released. Kapil Mishra is my elder brother, Chirag Paswan is also my elder brother—all are my own. Which leader do you know? Do you know Modi ji? Modi ji is also my elder brother. I have the support of everyone.”
The podcast host asked him where he got the stick that was seen in his hand during the CJP protest.
To this, Bhardwaj smiled and said,
“Are you looking at my shoe? This is the Delhi Police's shoe. I do not fill out any forms, yet I roam around like the Delhi Police. My shoe is from the Delhi Police, the stick and everything else is from the Delhi Police.”
CJP leader Saurav Das alleged that on July 20, during the protest at Jantar Mantar, the Delhi Police refused to impose strict charges against Bhardwaj.
Das wrote on X, “Let me tell you what really happened after the attack on Dalit person Sanjay by BJP-protected goon Independent Bhardwaj during our protest at Jantar Mantar. Sanjay ji's skull was fractured. The wound was so large and serious that a section for attempt to murder—IPC Section 307—should have been clearly applied in the FIR.”
He said,
“The other members of the gang accompanying Bhardwaj have not yet been identified, while many of them openly threatened Sanjay's minor daughter Nishu immediately after the attack by making reels.”
He questioned,
“If Kapil Mishra illegally intervened in the justice process, why should he not be made a co-accused in the FIR? Why should he not resign for protecting the members of the gang and abusing his position? Does the BJP leadership support this?”
Das stated that,
“The police deliberately used the ‘plainclothes’ narrative as a shield, so that political goons like Bhardwaj and right-wing extremists could directly infiltrate the police and attack peaceful protesting students.”
On July 20, thousands of protesters attempted to march to Parliament at the call of CJP and activist Sonam Wangchuk. During the clash with the protesters, the police resorted to lathi charge, fired tear gas shells, and used weapons like pellet guns. During this time, some individuals in plain clothes were seen attacking the protesters with the sticks used by the police.
Allegations have been made against the police for excessive use of force. The Delhi High Court issued a notice to the Delhi Police on July 22, directing them to preserve video evidence related to the actions taken by police personnel on July 20. The Delhi Police defended the deployment of its personnel in plain clothes during the "March to Parliament" in the Supreme Court. The police stated that considering the seriousness and urgency of the situation, these personnel were strategically included in the crowd.