New Delhi: Swatantra Bhardwaj, who presents himself as a staunch Hindu and frequently shares aggressive posts on social media, has been the center of major controversy over the past 48 hours. A startling revelation in this entire episode is that Swatantra Bhardwaj is not the mastermind of these criminal activities, but merely a pawn being used by others. The actual mentor and mastermind behind him is said to be Daksh Chaudhary, the same individual who was previously involved in publicly slapping a young Congress leader. Let us understand the chronological details of the criminal acts committed by Swatantra Bhardwaj and his mentor Daksh Chaudhary.
The Shocking Confession Regarding the Jantar Mantar Assault
Swatantra Bhardwaj stands accused of viciously attacking Sanjay Kumar, the father of student Nishu Azad, striking him repeatedly on the head and severely injuring his skull during a protest organized under the banner of the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) at Jantar Mantar. He was seen casually admitting to this violent act during a podcast interview with a YouTube channel. Furthermore, he proudly boasted that despite committing such a heinous crime, he was never arrested by the authorities. He claimed to have close ties with Union Minister and Lok Janshakti Party (Ramvilas) President Chirag Paswan and Delhi Government Minister-cum-BJP leader Kapil Mishra, which allegedly shielded him from consequences. Smiling on camera, he detailed how he executed the assault and claimed that a phone call from Kapil Mishra and Chirag Paswan prompted the Delhi Police to release him immediately.
The CJP Protest and the Official Police Statement
Following the viral spread of Swatantra Bhardwaj's interview, members of the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) took to the streets on Friday to stage fresh demonstrations. The protest was led by CJP figures Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka. Amidst these developments, the Delhi Police issued a statement clarifying that the 38-year-old Kumar sustained only minor injuries to his head during the scuffle. The police refuted claims that his skull bone had been fractured. They maintained that Swatantra Bhardwaj and another accused, Suraj Kumar, were detained from the spot, interrogated, and issued formal notices. The police added that a chargesheet would soon be filed in connection with the matter.
Arrest of Swatantra Bhardwaj from Bulandshahr
Following the police statement, the protest swelled further with the arrival of Azad Samaj Party chief and Nagina MP Chandrashekhar Azad alongside Independent Purnia MP Pappu Yadav, both accompanied by their supporters. Consequently, the Parliament Street police station promptly registered a formal case. Nishu Azad reported that she faced persistent abuse and rape threats in the aftermath of the incident, prompting her to file an independent FIR. Due to the intense protests and the fact that Nishu Azad belongs to a Dalit community, stringent charges under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act (SC/ST Act), along with charges of attempted murder, were slapped against Swatantra Bhardwaj. Acting swiftly, the Delhi Police arrested Swatantra Bhardwaj from Bulandshahr in Uttar Pradesh.
Chirag Paswan Files a Formal Complaint Against Bhardwaj
Meanwhile, as Bhardwaj's interview circulated widely, the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), the main opposition party in Bihar, used its official social media handles to target Chirag Paswan. Photographs of Swatantra Bhardwaj alongside Chirag Paswan began flooding various social media platforms. Old pictures shared previously by Bhardwaj also surfaced, showing him posing with several high-profile figures including Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary, BJP MP Manoj Tiwari, and Delhi Minister Kapil Mishra. However, because Bhardwaj directly addressed Chirag Paswan as his elder brother during the interview, the LJP (R) chief was forced to take active measures.
Addressing the media, Chirag Paswan remarked that the incident was extremely grave. He stated that when an individual openly boasts on camera about assaulting someone to the point of near-fatal consequences and claims immunity from action, it sets a dangerous precedent. He emphasized that the matter must be investigated thoroughly with strict action. Because the accused misused his name alongside several other politicians, Paswan confirmed that he had filed an official complaint against the individual. Chirag further stated that he urged the Delhi Police to conduct an impartial inquiry. He noted that in public life, politicians meet countless people who put forth their views, but that does not imply a personal acquaintance. Dismissing any personal connection with the accused, he reiterated that a complaint was filed specifically to penalize the misuse of his name.
The Real Mastermind Behind the Scenes
Swatantra Bhardwaj styles himself as a staunch Hindu and a social media influencer, whose online pages frequently feature aggressive, vulgar, and objectionable content. In recent days, he had also posted several photographs documenting his presence at the Jantar Mantar protest. However, the real plot runs deeper. Bhardwaj reportedly had the audacity to commit such serious crimes because he was trained under the watchful guidance of Daksh Chaudhary. Daksh Chaudhary is notorious for publicly misbehaving with high-profile personalities. Reports indicate that Daksh initially brought Swatantra into his fold so that he could record his criminal escapades on a mobile camera and upload them to social media to spread terror. One can identify Daksh Chaudhary from photographs as the young man sporting a heavy beard and long hair among a group of peers.
