FIR Filed Against Influencer Swatantra Bhardwaj Under POCSO Over Alleged Rape Threats to Minor

Swatantra Bhardwaj, a self-styled “influencer” accused of boasting about attacking the father of a minor.

Who participated in the recent Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protests at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar, has been detained by Delhi Police but has not been formally arrested, sources said.

Bhardwaj has been in police detention since Friday afternoon, according to sources. Police have also registered a fresh FIR against him under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act following a complaint. Sections of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (SC/ST) Act have also been invoked, sources said.

The development came after members of the CJP and Indian Youth Congress, along with Lok Sabha MPs Chandra Shekhar and Rajesh Ranjan, protested at the Parliament Street police station in New Delhi on Friday, September 4, demanding action.

Alleged Attack on Minor’s Father

Bhardwaj, 21, and others have been accused of assaulting Sanjay Azad, who had accompanied his minor daughter to the Jantar Mantar protests on June 23.

The allegations gained renewed attention after Bhardwaj reportedly made claims about the incident during a podcast. He allegedly said he had attacked the protester’s father and described the injuries he claimed to have caused.

“I cracked the skull of Nishu’s father,” Bhardwaj was heard saying in the video, while also claiming that the man required several stitches and was taken to hospital in serious condition.

He further claimed that he had not been jailed following the alleged incident and had continued to move around freely.

Claims of Political Connections

During the podcast, Bhardwaj also claimed to have the backing of several political leaders, including BJP leader Kapil Mishra and Union Minister Chirag Paswan. He additionally invoked Prime Minister Narendra Modi while describing the alleged political support he enjoyed.

The claims have not been established as fact.

Bhardwaj also referred to the minor girl’s alleged distress outside a police station, claiming that she had threatened to die by suicide if her father did not receive justice.

Chirag Paswan Files Complaint

Union Minister Chirag Paswan’s Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) separately approached the Parliament Street Police Station on Friday and filed a complaint against Bhardwaj.

The party alleged that Bhardwaj had falsely used Paswan’s name to claim political protection and sought registration of an FIR. It also asked police to formally record that neither Paswan nor the party had any connection with the matter.

Speaking to reporters, Paswan said failing to act against someone who had publicly claimed responsibility for an assault would send the wrong message.

He said he had filed the complaint because Bhardwaj had allegedly misused his name and those of other politicians, and called for an impartial investigation.

Paswan also expressed solidarity with Sanjay Azad and his family, saying his party would support them and that the matter should be investigated so that the truth emerges and appropriate legal action is taken.