SC/ST Act, Criminal Intimidation Charges Added Against Hindutva Influencer Bhardwaj

Delhi Police has added provisions of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and criminal intimidation to the FIR against Hindutva influencer Swatantra Bhardwaj in connection with the alleged assault on the father of a minor activist during a protest at Jantar Mantar in July. A fresh FIR under the POCSO Act has also been registered following a complaint by the minor.

Bhardwaj was detained in Bulandshahr on Friday, hours after the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) staged a protest outside the Parliament Street police station, demanding his arrest over the alleged assault.

CJP co-convener Saurav Das said Section 351(3) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), dealing with criminal intimidation involving a threat to cause death, along with provisions of the SC/ST Act, had been added to the existing case.

Das said provisions related to attempt to murder or attempt to culpable homicide would also be added shortly. He added that the legal team was seeking the inclusion of a section relating to grievous injury.

The police action followed controversy over an interview in which Bhardwaj allegedly claimed that he had “cracked the skull” of the minor activist’s father during the July 20 protest. He also claimed he had avoided arrest because of political connections. Delhi Police had earlier said the victim’s injuries were simple in nature and were caused by a steel bracelet. Bhardwaj later maintained that he had acted in self-defence.

In the separate POCSO case, the minor activist alleged online threats, harassment, rape threats and circulation of morphed images after she spoke publicly about the alleged assault.

The fresh FIR invokes POCSO, BNS Sections 351(3), 78 and 79, and Section 67 of the Information Technology Act. A senior Delhi Police officer confirmed the registration of the case but declined to provide further details, citing the involvement of a minor.

The developments followed a CJP delegation, accompanied by Nagina MP Chandrashekhar Azad, meeting police officials and demanding action against Bhardwaj.