Delhi court grants three-week interim bail to Swatantra Bhardwaj after Jantar Mantar assault

A Delhi court grants Swatantra Bhardwaj three weeks of interim bail after his arrest in the Jantar Mantar protest case, with the order delivered in a session that stressed safety for the complainant and his minor daughter^9,13. Bhardwaj, a self styled influencer, had claimed in a widely shared interview that he had cracked the skull of the student activist’s father, a remark that provoked public outrage and led to new FIRs under the SC ST Act and POCSO in some accounts^9,23.

The court noted that he had been in custody for about ten days, and that custodial interrogation was complete, while the offences carry a maximum sentence of seven years^2,8. The judge also bound him to strict conditions and barred public statements or social media posts during the bail period, signaling a careful approach to avoid tainting the case or intimidating witnesses^4,6.

The order reserved regular bail for three weeks, stating that the court would observe Bhardwaj’s conduct before deciding on his long term release, and that the safety of the complainant remains a priority as the investigation continues^2,14,20.

The case concerns a June incident at Jantar Mantar where the father of a minor activist was allegedly assaulted, with Bhardwaj accused in connection with the SC ST Act and related charges; the police have pursued a thorough review of evidence and CCTV footage as part of the probe^8,11,25.