Delhi Court Holds Verdict on Bail Plea of Influencer Swatantra Bhardwaj

On September 14, 2026, the Patiala House Court in Delhi, presided over by Additional Sessions Judge Saurabh Pratap Singh Laler, reserved its order on the regular-bail plea of Swatantra Bhardwaj. The hearing was in-camera and the decision will be announced on September 15, 2026.

CJP protest assault case: Court reserves order on Swatantra Bhardwaj's regular bail plea in assault case Jantar Mantar Assault Case: Delhi Court Reserves Order In Swatantra Bhardwaj Bail Plea, Order Tomorrow Bar & Bench‘Complainant attacked me’: Swatantra Bhardwaj tells Delhi court, says arrest politically motivated The Hindu

The case arises from a July 2026 protest by the Cockroach Janta Party at Jantar Mantar. Bhardwaj was accused of striking Sanjay Azad, the father of a Dalit student-activist, with a metal bracelet. An FIR filed on June 23, 2026 recorded simple hurt and wrongful restraint under Sections 115(2) and 126(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. After a supplementary statement added a casteist slur, the FIR was amended to invoke the SC/ST Act, and a separate FIR under the POCSO Act was also lodged.

Bar & Bench

• June 27, 2026 – Police notice to appear.

CJP protest assault case: Court reserves order on Swatantra Bhardwaj's regular bail plea in assault case

• June 29, 2026 – Bhardwaj complied and was released.

The Hindu

• September 4/5, 2026 – Arrest in Bulandshahr (sources differ).

The Hindu

• September 6, 2026 – Remanded for one day of judicial custody.

Jantar Mantar Assault Case: Delhi Court Reserves Order In Swatantra Bhardwaj Bail Plea, Order Tomorrow

• September 7, 2026 – Sent to 14 days’ judicial custody, later extended to September 21, 2026.

The Hindu

• Delhi Police: The original complaint lacked a casteist slur; it appeared only in a later statement, prompting the SC/ST Act charge. Injuries were described as “simple in nature.”

Bar & Bench

• Judge Laler: Queried whether Bhardwaj used a slur at the incident and ordered the remaining proceedings in-camera.

The Hindu

• Complainant’s counsel, Swati Khanna: Stated Bhardwaj used slurs and admitted aggression on video; noted a rejected habeas corpus petition.

‘Complainant attacked me’: Swatantra Bhardwaj tells Delhi court, says arrest politically motivated

• Bhardwaj’s counsel, Umesh Sharma: Claimed the arrest was politically motivated, that the complainant attacked Bhardwaj, and that a video supporting this claim had not been reviewed. He also asserted the FIR had been quashed by the Supreme Court—a claim the High Court rejected.

‘Complainant attacked me’: Swatantra Bhardwaj tells Delhi court, says arrest politically motivated

The complainant’s team argued the slur justified invoking the SC/ST Act and disputed Bhardwaj’s claim of “cracking the skull” of the victim. Politicians Kapil Mishra and Chirag Paswan denied any association with Bhardwaj; Paswan filed a complaint alleging misuse of his name.

‘Complainant attacked me’: Swatantra Bhardwaj tells Delhi court, says arrest politically motivated

• Arrest date: September 4 vs. September 5.

The Hindu

• Detention origin: August 4 detention in Bulandshahr vs. September 4 arrest.

The Hindu

• Video evidence: Counsel claims a video shows the complainant attacking Bhardwaj; police say no such footage has been located.

The Hindu

• Supreme Court quash: Counsel alleges prior quash; High Court found no record.

Jantar Mantar Assault Case: Delhi Court Reserves Order In Swatantra Bhardwaj Bail Plea, Order Tomorrow

The Patiala House Court will deliver its decision on the bail application on September 15, 2026. Subsequent review may address the applicability of the SC/ST and POCSO provisions and the alleged political motivations behind the arrest.

The Hindu