CJP to Approach Delhi Police Seeking Action Against Hindutva Influencer Over Jantar Mantar Assault

The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) plans to visit Delhi’s Parliament Street Police Station on Friday morning, seeking action against self-styled Hindutva influencer Swatantra Bhardwaj over an alleged assault on Sanjay Kumar, father of student protester Nishu Azad, during a demonstration at Jantar Mantar in June.

CJP spokesperson Saurav Das said he, along with other party members, would reach the police station at 10 am to demand justice for Sanjay. Party co-convener Ashutosh Ranka also urged people to join the protest.

“Every true patriot should join Saurav.. It’s us vs communal, bigoted hate-mongers,” Ranka said in a post on X.

What is the case?

The case concerns an alleged assault on Sanjay Kumar during a CJP protest at Jantar Mantar on June 23. The party has alleged that Kumar was attacked by Bhardwaj and others during a scuffle at the protest site.

In a video that circulated online, Bhardwaj claimed that he had “cracked the skull” of Kumar and said the injury required 60 stitches. He also claimed that despite the alleged assault, he was not jailed and suggested that political connections had helped him avoid arrest.

Bhardwaj further claimed that Delhi BJP minister Kapil Mishra, Union minister Chirag Paswan and Prime Minister Narendra Modi were like his “elder brothers” and that he enjoyed their support.

Delhi Police rejects skull injury claim

Delhi Police has disputed Bhardwaj’s claim that Kumar suffered a fractured or “cracked” skull, calling it “misinformation” and “completely baseless”.

According to the DCP New Delhi, the incident occurred during the CJP protest on June 23. Police said Kumar, 38, a resident of Ghaziabad, suffered a head injury from a kada, or metal bangle, worn by one of the men involved in the scuffle.

Kumar was medically examined at RML Hospital, where his injuries were classified as “simple in nature”, police said. The force also said the injury was caused by the kada and not by a weapon.

A case was registered at Parliament Street Police Station based on Kumar’s complaint. Police said two men, Suraj Kumar, 24, and Swatantra Bhardwaj, 21, were detained at the protest site and subsequently served notices and interrogated.

“Due legal action has been taken, and chargesheet would be filed before the competent court soon,” Delhi Police said, while rejecting allegations of political interference.

CJP alleges police inaction

CJP spokesperson Saurav Das has accused Delhi Police of failing to take sufficiently stringent action against Bhardwaj. He alleged that Sanjay suffered a serious head injury and claimed that police declined to invoke an attempt-to-murder charge under Section 307 of the IPC.

Das alleged that CJP members requested the addition of more serious charges but were told by police officials to “go get a court order”.

He also claimed that other people allegedly involved in the assault had not been identified, despite allegations that some had subsequently posted videos and threatened Nishu.

Das has further questioned Bhardwaj’s claims about political backing, particularly his references to Kapil Mishra.

“Now Bhardwaj openly flaunts of Delhi Minister Kapil Mishra pressuring the Police to release him from the Police Station and not to add any strict sections that can lead to his arrest!” Das wrote.

He questioned whether Mishra should be held accountable if he had intervened in the case and asked whether such alleged interference warranted his resignation.