Jantar Mantar Assault Case | Delhi Court Remands Swatantra Bhardwaj To 14 Days Judicial Custody
Delhi's Patiala House Court today remanded Swatantra Bhardwaj to 14 days of judicial custody in connection with the alleged assault on the father of a minor protester during a demonstration at Jantar Mantar.
The latest order follows Bhardwaj's arrest by the Delhi Police Crime Branch from Bulandshahr, Uttar Pradesh, on September 4.
Bhardwaj had earlier been produced before Additional Sessions Judge Saurabh Pratap Singh Laler, who granted the investigating agency one day of police custody.
On expiry of that remand, he was produced before the Duty Magistrate yesterday, who had granted one day of judicial custody. The period ended today, pursuant to which he was produced today before the ASJ Laler again, who has now sent him to 14 days of judicial custody.
Case Against Bhardwaj
Bhardwaj was detained by the Delhi's Crime Branch in UP's Bulandshahr on September 4 and subsequently brought to Delhi. Police had earlier indicated that they were taking steps to arrest him in connection with the case following demands for his arrest.
The matter relates to an altercation during a protest at Jantar Mantar in July, in which the father of a minor protester allegedly suffered a head injury. Bhardwaj subsequently made alleged statements in a video podcast claiming that he had attacked the man.
The alleged statements circulated widely on social media and became part of the controversy surrounding the case.
Bhardwaj has reportedly disputed the characterisation of the incident and has claimed to have acted in self-defence during the alleged assault. The allegations, however, remain subject to investigation.
The police have also added provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 to the earlier case concerning the alleged assault.
The Police are expected to examine whether the alleged incident involved an element covered by the SC/ST Act, including the circumstances and intent behind the alleged assault.
Police are also examining whether additional offences should be invoked based on the material collected during the investigation. Reports have indicated that the possibility of adding an attempt-to-murder charge was also being examined following demands made in connection with the case.
As per certain media reports, a separate FIR has also been registered under provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 (POCSO Act) following a complaint by the minor protester concerning alleged rape threats and intimidation attributed to persons associated with Bhardwaj.
The case gained renewed attention after a video podcast in which Bhardwaj allegedly claimed that he had attacked the protester's father during the Jantar Mantar incident. Following the circulation of the video, a protest was held outside the Parliament Street Police Station demanding his arrest and stronger provisions in the case.
The Crime Branch subsequently detained him in Bulandshahr and brought him to Delhi. He was then formally arrested and produced before the court, which granted the investigating agency one day of police custody.
Meanwhile, complaints have also been filed against Bhardwaj over statements allegedly made on the podcast, while a separate complaint has reportedly been filed against the minor protester and her father regarding social media posts.