New Delhi: A self-proclaimed ‘Hindutva activist’ bragged in an interview that he “cracked a man’s skull” at the Jantar Mantar protests and got away with it. The injured man’s teenage daughter made a teary appeal for justice on social media. What followed was an unusual scene at Delhi’s Parliament Street police station Friday—a Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) delegation and a Congress delegation sitting together and demanding answers, even as they represented separate fronts.
The Congress, which has kept the CJP at an arm’s length so far, was for the first time sitting at the same table. A battery of lawyers sent by the party sat next to CJP’s Ashutosh Ranka and Saurav Das as they grilled police officers on duty. The Congress Youth Wing was also present, represented by its Delhi unit president Ajay Lakra.
Here’s how it all started.
In his interview on a podcast called ‘The Casual Talk’, uploaded to YouTube on 3 September, Swatantra Bharadwaj said that he had beaten up a man who later turned out to be a 14-year-old CJP volunteer’s father. “I cracked his head with my kada,” he said, adding that “the world should know that I didn’t even go to jail for it”.
He further referred to Delhi Minister Kapil Mishra, Cabinet Minister Chirag Paswan, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi as his “bade bhaiya (big brother)”, implying that his links with the BJP helped him evade arrest.
The interview went viral.
The minor CJP volunteer then took to X to appeal to Congress MP and Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi for justice for her father.
“I now have hope from the Leader of the Opposition @RahulGandhi that he will surely deliver justice to us. I will fight and I will win this battle,” she posted on X along with a video message.
Rahul responded to her post soon after.
“…there’s no need to panic. I’m with you. It’s clear that you’re being targeted because you raise your voice for the rights of your community and students. Amit Shah’s Delhi Police, on one hand, commits inhuman brutality against students. On the other hand, the criminal who smashed the head of a Dalit girl’s father is roaming freely in the open. @narendramodi ji, @AmitShah ji – Why does such a criminal have the protection of you and the people in your party? Will there be action now, or will you keep shielding someone? …your fight is not alone. We won’t stop until justice is served. Jai Bhim. Jai Constitution,” he wrote on X, and pinned the post on his handle.
Soon, the Congress legal team, led by senior party leader and lawyer Abhishek Manu Singhvi, sent six counsels led by advocate Rishav Ranjan to assist the teen.
“Following RG’s unequivocal support to the victim, the AICC Law Department ensured the deployment of 6 counsels, led by Rishav Ranjan, to secure justice…,” Singhvi posted on X.
The legal team also drafted and ensured the filing of a separate complaint over the rape threats allegedly received by … in recent days, Singhvi added.
“After detailed deliberations, Delhi Police has assured: • Addition of appropriate provisions relating to attempt to murder & the SC/ST Act • Arrest of Swatantra Bhardwaj within 72 hours • A separate FIR against those responsible for the online abuse, harassment & threats,” he wrote.
CJP national coordinator Deepak Baliyan told ThePrint that the presence of Congress leaders did not mean the police station visit was a Congress programme.
“We aren’t a political party, this was an open call. We did not have a problem with anyone joining us. NSUI IYC protesters were also there, leaders from Congress and other parties like Bhim Army (referring to Bhim Army chief Chandrashekhar Azad) were also there. The delegation that spoke to the police had three of us from CJP and others,” Baliyan said.
Sources in the CJP said the teen volunteer has been associated with the organisation since the protests began. She is not an office-bearer because of her age, but has been actively involved in the movement and has made videos in support of it, they added.
Booked in SC/ST and POCSO cases
Swatantra Bhardwaj, who later claimed that he struck the man in self-defence, was detained by the Delhi Police Friday. He has been booked in two separate FIRs, one under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and another under the Protection of Children From Sexual Offences Act.
“This is basis a fresh complaint given by the minor victim alleging online threats and harassment. So far, other major sections included: BNS section 351(3) for criminal intimidation threatening death, sections 78 and 79 for outraging modesty and stalking, and section 67 of the IT Act for obscene material. More updates to follow. Our lawyer Shivansh Agarwal is currently in the PS and following up with the Police and ensuring they fulfil their commitments,” Saurav Das wrote on X.
Rahul’s ‘Chhatron Ki Goonj’ finds another echo
The teen CJP volunteer’s appeal comes as Rahul has increasingly sought to position himself alongside the youth, especially students.
His ‘Chhatron Ki Goonj’ campaign, launched in June, has taken him to Kota, Dehradun and Prayagraj, where he has focused on paper leaks, recruitment examinations, unemployment, education costs and the concerns of competitive-exam aspirants.
After the 20 July police crackdown on Jantar Mantar protesters, Rahul backed the students and raised allegations of police brutality and pellet gun use. In August, he personally accompanied 19-year-old CJP protester Sahil Lochab—who sustained serious injuries to one of his eyes—to a police station.
When Lochab’s police complaint was not immediately registered, the Congress MP sat on a dharna outside the DCP’s office demanding an FIR, which was subsequently registered.
Rahul had also sat on a dharna outside Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s residence demanding the resignation of then education minister Dharmendra Pradhan. Pradhan later stepped down, following which the CJP ended its stir.
Rahul’s interventions with young protesters appeared to find some resonance with Gen Z—from his ‘Smash the Patriarchy’ calls to holding press conferences with injured students.
(Edited by Gitanjali Das)
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