The Delhi High Court on Monday (September 7, 2026) dismissed a plea by Hindutva influencer Swatantra Bhardwaj against his arrest in connection with the alleged assault on the father of a student activist during a protest at Jantar Mantar.
A Bench of Justices Navin Chawla and Ravinder Dudeja said Mr.
Bhardwaj was remanded in custody pursuant to trial court’s judicial orders and he could challenge his arrest before the court concerned.
‘Hindutva influencer’ sent to one-day police custody in Jantar Mantar assault case Counsel for Mr.
Bhardwaj contended that even a single day’s custody was illegal, saying the First Information Report (FIR) did not exist in the eyes of law.
He argued that this was one of the FIRs related to the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protest that were quashed by the Supreme Court.
Delhi Police assured arrest within 72 hours: CJP co-convenor Ashutosh Ranka However, counsel for the Delhi Police said Mr.
Bhardwaj was produced through video conferencing before a sessions judge on Saturday and was sent to one-day police custody.
“He is in custody in pursuance to judicial orders, so where is the question of habeas corpus or illegal custody.
Once there is a legal order, they can challenge it before the court concerned,” the police counsel contended.
On instructions from the Station House Officer of the Parliament Street police station, the counsel said this FIR had not been quashed by the Supreme Court.
Union Minister Chirag Paswan files complaint against Swatantra Bhardwaj over ‘misuse’ of name The counsel for the complaint apprised the court that provisions under the SC/ST Act have also been invoked against Mr.
Bhardwaj in the FIR.
Mr.
Bhardwaj was detained in Bulandshahr on September 4, hours after the CJP staged a protest outside the Parliament Street police station demanding his arrest over the alleged assault.
