An activist’s claim that he “cracked open the skull” of a student protester’s father during the protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi and “did not even go to jail” has led to a scathing attack against the Centre and the Delhi Police by the Opposition and the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP). The CJP stated a protest outside the Parliament Street police station on Friday (September 4).
The activist, Swatantra Bhardwaj, reportedly made the remarks in a viral podcast claiming that his links with high-profile BJP leaders played a key role in him not getting arrested.
According to an India Today report, Bharadwaj allegedly assaulted Sanjay Kumar, a student protester’s father, during the CJP agitation at Jantar Mantar. The report further stated that according to the FIR, the incident took place on June 23, adding that following the incident, Bharadwaj, a resident of Patna’s Kankarbagh, was detained but was later released.
Activist claims no jail time
“Do you know which section this crime attracts? Section 307 (attempt to murder). He was almost dying in the ambulance,” said Bhardwaj in the podcast, adding that the protester’s father required 60 stitches.
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“But I was not even jailed. The world should know this. I was roaming around all night,” he added. He also claimed that he “automatically” roams around like Delhi Police. “Can you see my shoe? This shoe is of the Delhi Police. I didn’t fill out any form, but automatically I roam around like Delhi Police,” he said, as quoted by India Today.
Bhardwaj cites self-defence
However, following the backlash, Bharadwaj claimed that he acted in self-defence. “What people are calling an attack was an act of self-defence. If I had not acted in self-defence, I could have been lynched by the mob or killed. There was no attempt to attack him. I have video proof,” he said, as quoted by YEARS.
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Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi threw his weight behind the protester after she reached out to him, assuring her, “There’s no need to panic. I am with you.”
Rahul Gandhi attacks Delhi Police
“Amit Shah’s Delhi Police, on one hand, commits inhuman brutality against students. On the other hand, the criminal who smashed the head of a Dalit girl’s father is roaming freely in the open,” added Rahul in a post on X.
The CJP also lashed out at the Delhi Police over the incident as co-convenors Saurav Das, Ashutosh Ranka, along with others, staged a protest outside the Parliament Street police station.
“DCP Sachin Sharma and ACP Ajay Sharma flatly refused. Not just this, they told us on our faces, ‘go get a court order,” stated Das in a post on X.
Delhi Police rejects allegations
Denying the allegation, the Delhi Police stated that the injury resulted from a bangle during the scuffle, adding that a case was registered and Suraj Kumar (24) and Swatantra Bhardwaj (21) were detained and interrogated.
“Due legal action has been taken, and a chargesheet will be filed soon. Any allegation of undue influence or interference in the matter is factually incorrect and baseless,” stated the DCP, New Delhi, in a post on X.