Delhi Court Grants Three-Week Interim Bail to Swatantra Bhardwaj in CJP Protester Assault Case

Yugcharan News / 16-09-2026

A Delhi court has granted three weeks of interim bail to Swatantra Bhardwaj, who is facing allegations in connection with the reported assault of the father of a teenage Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) activist during a protest at Jantar Mantar in July. The order was passed by Additional Sessions Judge Saurabh Pratap Singh Laler of the Patiala House Courts on Tuesday, September 15.

The court granted Bhardwaj interim relief even though his original application was for regular bail. A detailed order explaining the reasons and conditions attached to the interim bail is awaited.

The case has attracted attention because it involves allegations under provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act as well as the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. The proceedings have also involved questions concerning the circumstances of Bhardwaj’s arrest and the manner in which the Delhi Police investigated the allegations.

Bhardwaj was taken into custody in Uttar Pradesh’s Bulandshahr on Friday, shortly after the CJP staged a protest outside the Parliament Street police station demanding his arrest in connection with the alleged assault.

Court examines two FIRs

During the proceedings, the court was informed that two separate FIRs had been registered against Bhardwaj. One case has been registered under provisions of the SC/ST Act, while another proceeding involves the POCSO Act.

The court was told that Bhardwaj had been arrested in connection with the FIR registered under the SC/ST Act and had not been arrested in the separate POCSO case.

The distinction became relevant during the bail proceedings as the court examined the allegations and the legal provisions invoked against the accused.

The court had earlier decided to conduct the proceedings in camera after being informed about the two FIRs, including the case registered under the POCSO Act. In-camera proceedings are conducted privately rather than in an open courtroom, particularly in matters where sensitive issues involving minors or other protected information arise.

The use of such proceedings is intended to protect confidential information and ensure that sensitive details are not unnecessarily disclosed in public.

Alleged assault during Jantar Mantar protest

The allegations against Bhardwaj relate to an alleged assault involving the father of a teenage CJP activist during a protest at Jantar Mantar in July.

The matter came into wider public view after statements attributed to Bhardwaj in a video podcast circulated on social media. In the video, he allegedly spoke about assaulting the father of the teenage protester and also claimed to have political connections.

Following the circulation of the video, the matter generated considerable public attention and demands for police action.

The Delhi Police subsequently added provisions of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and criminal intimidation to the FIR concerning the alleged assault.

A separate POCSO case was also registered against Bhardwaj, although the court was informed that his arrest had been made in relation to the SC/ST Act case rather than the POCSO matter.

Arrest followed CJP protest

The developments surrounding the case escalated when members of the CJP organised a protest outside the Parliament Street police station, demanding Bhardwaj’s arrest.

Bhardwaj was subsequently detained in Bulandshahr, Uttar Pradesh. His arrest then became the subject of legal proceedings, including a challenge before the Delhi High Court.

The Delhi High Court recently rejected Bhardwaj’s habeas corpus petition challenging the legality of his arrest. The rejection meant that his detention continued while his bail proceedings were being considered by the trial court.

The latest interim bail order therefore represents a separate development in the ongoing legal proceedings.

Interim bail is temporary relief

The court’s decision to grant three weeks of interim bail does not amount to a final determination of the allegations against Bhardwaj.

Interim bail is temporary relief granted for a limited period and operates separately from a final decision on a regular bail application. The detailed reasoning behind the court’s latest order is expected to provide further clarity on the circumstances in which the temporary relief was granted.

Since the original application before the court sought regular bail, the proceedings may continue after the period of interim bail, depending on subsequent court orders and the status of the investigation.

The prosecution and defence will continue to present their respective positions before the court as the case develops.

Court had earlier flagged investigation concerns

The latest order follows earlier judicial scrutiny of the police investigation.

In a related proceeding, the court had flagged certain gaps in the Delhi Police probe while considering Bhardwaj’s request for bail. The court also imposed restrictions preventing him from discussing the case publicly through social media.

According to the related proceedings, the restrictions included a bar on posting or sharing material concerning the case on social media, including material presented as part of his defence.

Such restrictions are intended to ensure that the legal proceedings are not affected by public statements or social media exchanges while the case remains pending.

The court’s observations regarding the investigation have added another dimension to the proceedings, with questions concerning both the allegations and the manner in which evidence has been collected and examined.

Sensitive nature of POCSO proceedings

The involvement of the POCSO Act has also made the proceedings particularly sensitive. The law provides a special legal framework for cases involving alleged sexual offences against children and places considerable emphasis on protecting the identity and privacy of minors.

Because of the sensitive nature of such proceedings, courts can restrict public access to certain information and conduct hearings in camera where required.

The fact that the court was informed about a separate POCSO FIR was therefore significant during the bail proceedings. However, the court was specifically told that Bhardwaj’s arrest was connected to the SC/ST Act case rather than the POCSO FIR.

The distinction between the two cases will be relevant as the legal proceedings continue.

Legal proceedings remain ongoing

The interim bail order does not bring the case to an end. Investigators and prosecutors will continue to pursue the allegations through the appropriate legal process, while Bhardwaj will have the opportunity to contest the charges and present his defence.

The court will ultimately assess the evidence and legal arguments placed before it at the relevant stages of the proceedings.

The case has already passed through several stages, including the registration of multiple FIRs, Bhardwaj’s detention in Uttar Pradesh, a habeas corpus challenge before the Delhi High Court and bail proceedings before the Patiala House Courts.

The latest three-week interim bail order is therefore another step in a case that has generated significant attention because of its connection to a teenage protester, an alleged assault, social media statements and the involvement of multiple criminal-law provisions.

What happens next

Bhardwaj’s interim bail will remain in force for three weeks under the terms set by the court. The detailed order is expected to clarify the specific conditions imposed on him and the court’s reasoning for granting temporary relief.

Meanwhile, the underlying criminal cases will continue independently. The allegations concerning the reported assault, the SC/ST Act provisions, criminal intimidation and the separate POCSO proceedings will have to be dealt with through the judicial process.

The case also highlights the importance of allowing investigations and court proceedings to take their course rather than treating allegations made through social media or public statements as established facts.

For now, the court has provided Bhardwaj with temporary relief while the broader legal dispute remains pending. The next stages of the proceedings are expected to determine the future course of the bail application and the criminal cases registered against him.

As the matter progresses, the courts will examine the evidence, the investigation and the legal submissions of the parties before reaching decisions on the issues that remain before them.