Father of CJP Protester Accuses Influencer Swatantra Bhardwaj of Threatening His Minor Daughter and Assaulting Him

When the video of Swatantra Bhardwaj’s podcast went viral, it sparked a firestorm that has now landed his name in a police FIR. The clip, in which Bhardwaj boasted about "cracking the skull" of a protester’s father, was quickly shared across social media, prompting a flurry of outrage.

For Sanjay Azad, the father of 17‑year‑old CJP activist Nishu Azad, the episode is far more personal. He tells CNN‑News18 that Bhardwaj not only assaulted him during the July 20 demonstration at Jantar Mantar, but also used social‑media platforms to threaten his minor daughter. “He threatened my daughter on Instagram, then smashed me on the head,” Azad said, urging investigators to add attempted murder and other serious provisions to the case.

The confrontation happened amid a CJP‑led protest over alleged NEET‑UG paper leaks. According to Azad, he was accompanying his daughter when Bhardwaj, surrounded by a handful of supporters, lunged at him and delivered a blow that required stitches and a brief hospital stay. Medical records, he says, corroborate the injuries.

Bhardwaj later tried to spin the narrative, claiming his “sarcastic” remarks about the incident were taken out of context and that he acted in self‑defence after being cornered by protesters. He insists the viral snippet was edited, pointing to a later recording dated July 23 as evidence that the heated exchange continued.

Delhi police say they have registered a fresh FIR under the POCSO Act, as well as sections of the SC/ST Act, after receiving Azad’s complaint. The influencer was apprehended in Bulandshahr on Friday, following a coordinated effort by police teams. Officials, however, note that the case is still under investigation and that Bhardwaj is being questioned.

The Cockroach Jatra Party (CJP) has not stayed quiet. Its members staged a sit‑in outside the Sansad Marg police station, demanding that the charges be upgraded and that Bhardwaj face a swift trial. The party’s spokesperson reiterated that the assault was pre‑meditated and that the threats to a minor should attract the fullest possible penalty.

While the legal process unfolds, Sanjay Azad says he will continue to share the video evidence and any additional proof he has gathered. “I’m not fabricating anything,” he insists, “and I want justice not just for myself, but for my daughter.”