Delhi Court Grants 3 Weeks Interim Bail To Swatantra Bhardwaj In CJP Protester Assault Case - Live Law

**Delhi Court Grants 3‑Week Interim Bail To Swatantra Bhardwaj In CJP Protester Assault Case**

A Delhi Sessions Court on Tuesday granted a three‑week interim bail to Swatantra Bhardwaj, a self‑described “Hindutva influencer,” in a case that stems from an alleged assault on the father of a Dalit rights activist during a protest organized by the Committee for Justice and Peace (CJP). Bhardwaj was arrested in early March after a video surfaced showing him confronting and physically striking the complainant’s father outside the protest venue in South Delhi. The prosecution charged him under sections of the Indian Penal Code pertaining to assault and criminal intimidation, citing the incident as part of a broader pattern of violence against Dalit activists.

During the bail hearing, Bhardwaj’s counsel argued that his client had been detained on “political grounds” and that the evidence against him was largely circumstantial. The defence highlighted that the complainant had previously filed a counter‑complaint alleging that Bhardwaj was the victim of an attack, and contended that the arrest was meant to curb his right to free speech and political expression. The court, after hearing both sides, granted interim bail for a period of 21 days with the usual conditions – surrender of passport, regular reporting to the police station, and a prohibition on contacting any witnesses – while reserving its final order on the regular bail application.

The decision has elicited mixed reactions. Bhardwaj, speaking to the media after the hearing, maintained his innocence and reiterated that the case was “fabricated to silence dissenting voices.” Dalit rights groups, however, condemned the bail as a setback for victims of caste‑based violence, urging the judiciary to take a tougher stance. Legal analysts note that the interim bail does not set a precedent on the merits of the case but underscores the court’s balancing act between safeguarding individual liberty and ensuring accountability in politically charged incidents.