The Cockroach Janta Party said Delhi Police has assured it that Swatantra Bharadwaj, accused of assaulting student activist Nishu Azad’s father during a Jantar Mantar protest, will be arrested within 72 hours and face additional charges
Published Date – 4 September 2026, 03:02 PM
New Delhi: Representatives of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) on Friday said the Delhi Police has assured them that Swatantra Bharadwaj, the man accused of assaulting the father of student activist Nishu Azad during a protest at Jantar Mantar, will be arrested within 72 hours.
The assurance came a day after a clip of an interview with Bharadwaj, who describes himself as a ‘kattar Hindu’ (hardline Hindu), made rounds on the internet. In the clip, he was seen admitting that he had “cracked the skull” of Sanjay Kumar, Nishu Azad’s father, during the protest and escaped being jailed despite the seriousness of the alleged offence.
The CJP, which had organised the protest at Jantar Mantar where the incident took place, has been demanding Bharadwaj’s arrest and alleging that the Delhi Police failed to take adequate action against him.
The controversy escalated on Thursday after the Delhi Police said 38-year-old Kumar had suffered a simple head injury during a scuffle and rejected claims that his skull had been fractured.
Police said Bharadwaj and another accused, Suraj Kumar, were detained at the spot, questioned and served notices, and that a chargesheet would be filed.
On Friday, CJP co-conveners Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka and scores of supporters, along with MPs Chandrashekhar Azad and Pappu Yadav, reached the Parliament Street police station seeking action against Bharadwaj.
Nishu said the police assured them that “Bharadwaj would be arrested within 72 hours”.
“Police said they will arrest Swatantra in 72 hours. We believe they will take action and not keep delaying it as they were doing,” she told reporters.
Nishu also said she had faced verbal abuse and rape threats after the incident and had filed an FIR in the matter.
“I was ashamed of even stepping out. For a few weeks I could not go to school. I feel everyone is judging me. I hope police will take action,” she said.
Rishabh, associated with the AICC law department, said the delegation had demanded the addition of charges of attempt to murder, provisions of the SC/ST Act and criminal intimidation to the FIR.
“The demand was to add significant charges left out — attempt to murder, SC/ST Act and criminal intimidation charges. They agreed and assured that in 72 hours he will be arrested,” he said.
Rishabh said the police had also assured them that a separate FIR would be registered over alleged online abuse and objectionable images targeting Nishu.
CJP’s Saurav Das said the Additional DCP had committed to adding attempt-to-murder and SC/ST Act provisions to the FIR relating to the attack on Sanjay Kumar.
“Goons like Swatantra Bharadwaj came to Jantar Mantar. Did Delhi Police not identify them? He committed attempt to murder. Delhi Police is saving him, no action was taken,” Das said.
He said the police had also assured them that an FIR would be registered over threats to Nishu and that POCSO Act provisions would be added.
“Delhi Police has assured action in 72 hours. We hope Delhi Police will not allow goons to have a free hand,” Das said.
Das said the CJP representatives had come to the police station to seek action and would return if the police did not fulfil its commitments.
“We came here, talked to Delhi Police. If they don’t fulfil the commitment, we will have to come back. Delhi Police should fulfil its commitment. We are standing with the students,” he said.
The CJP has also questioned the circumstances in which Bharadwaj was allowed to remain free after the Jantar Mantar incident.
In the video that triggered the controversy, Bharadwaj appeared to claim that political connections had helped him avoid jail, naming Delhi minister Kapil Mishra and Union minister Chirag Paswan.
Das said senior BJP leaders should clarify the claim.
“If the goon is openly saying Kapil Mishra and Chirag Paswan made the calls and he was released, top leaders of BJP should clarify on this,” he said.
