Union Minister Chirag Paswan filed a complaint against Hindutva influencer Swatantra Bhardwaj, accusing him of falsely using his name while claiming political backing in connection with an assault during a CJP protest in Delhi. Bhardwaj claimed in an interview that he “cracked the skull” of a student activist’s father during the protest.
Union Minister Chirag Paswan on Friday filed a police complaint against Hindutva influencer Swatantra Bhardwaj, who claimed in an interview that he had “cracked the skull” of a student activist’s father during a CJP protest in Delhi. Paswan accused Bhardwaj of falsely using his name in connection with the assault.
Paswan’s party legal cell filed the complaint at Parliament Street police station, seeking action against Bhardwaj and protection from what it called his false public claims. A senior police officer said the complaint was being examined, and no case had been registered till Friday.
On Friday, Delhi Police detained Bhardwaj in Uttar Pradesh, hours after Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) members protested outside the police station demanding his arrest over the assault.
In the interview clip that brought Bhardwaj under scrutiny, he claimed he had “cracked the skull” of the activist’s father during a CJP protest at Jantar Mantar in July, leaving him with an injury that required 60 stitches. He also claimed he had avoided jail despite the assault.
Bhardwaj further claimed he had the support of several political leaders, naming Delhi Minister Kapil Mishra and Chirag Paswan among them. “I have the blessings of Lord Hanuman upon me. And secondly, Kapil Mishra is my elder brother… Chirag Paswan is my elder brother,” he claimed.
There is, however, no evidence to establish that any of the political leaders named by Bhardwaj intervened on his behalf in the case.
Paswan said Bhardwaj had misused his name as well as those of other political leaders and demanded action against him. “No action despite the accused admitting to an attack that could have been fatal sets a bad example; I take responsibility for ensuring justice for the family,” Paswan said.
His party’s legal cell said neither Paswan nor the party had any association with Bhardwaj and that they stood with the activist and her injured father.