The Delhi High Court has granted an urgent hearing regarding the habeas corpus petition submitted by Swatantra Bhardwaj, a right-wing influencer, challenging his arrest. This decision was made on Monday, with the plea focused on allegations related to an assault on the father of a student activist during a demonstration at Jantar Mantar. The case was addressed by a bench composed of Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia, who allowed the matter to be scheduled for hearing on the same day.

Details of Arrest and Court Proceedings

Bhardwaj was taken into custody in Bulandshahr on September 4, 2026, and appeared before a duty magistrate via video conferencing on September 5, where he was subsequently remanded to one day of judicial custody. His lawyer, Umesh Sharma, urged the court for an expedited listing of the case, stating that Bhardwaj had been in custody for three days and requesting immediate attention to the habeas corpus petition.

The Delhi Police have included charges under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, along with criminal intimidation, in the FIR against Bhardwaj. These charges stem from an incident involving alleged violence against Sanjay Kumar, the father of a teenage activist, during a protest led by the Cockroach Janta Party at Jantar Mantar in June of this year. Additionally, a case under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act has also been filed against Bhardwaj.

Following his arrest, Bhardwaj’s case attracted significant attention, primarily after the Cockroach Janta Party lodged a protest outside the Parliament Street police station demanding his arrest. The police presented a plea for one-day custodial interrogation, which was granted by a sessions judge in Delhi.

Context of the Allegations and Controversy

The controversy gained momentum after Bhardwaj allegedly made a statement during an interview where he claimed to have inflicted severe injury on the student activist’s father during the protest on June 23. In this interview, he stated, “I cracked the skull… Do you know which section this crime attracts? Section 307. He needed 60 stitches.” This declaration has reportedly stirred public outrage and intensified scrutiny on his actions.

The student activist has reported facing threats and harassment since bringing attention to the alleged assault on her father. Claims have been made regarding receiving rape threats, verbal abuse, and having her images tampered with after filing a police complaint about the incident. These developments have added layers of complexity to the ongoing case against Bhardwaj, as the situation underscores the contentious nature of the events leading to his arrest.

As the High Court prepares to delve deeper into the matter, Bhardwaj continues to challenge the validity of his arrest while the police have amended the charges against him. This case, which sits at the intersection of politics, activism, and social issues in India, remains under careful examination as new facts arise and the hearings progress.

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