A Delhi court has granted regular bail to Swatantra Bhardwaj in the case over the alleged assault of a complainant linked to a Cockroach Janta Party protest at Jantar Mantar, weeks after granting him three weeks’ interim bail. The allegations are untested.
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New Delhi: A Delhi court has granted regular bail to Swatantra Bhardwaj in the Parliament Street police station case arising from an alleged assault on a complainant in connection with a Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protest at Jantar Mantar. The allegations are untested, the Court has made no finding of guilt, and the presumption of innocence applies. [State v. Swatantra Bhardwaj]
The bail was granted by Additional Sessions Judge Saurabh Pratap Singh Laler of the Patiala House Courts. The detailed order is awaited.
Background
The FIR was registered at the Parliament Street police station under Sections 115(2) and 126(2) read with Section 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, offences that were initially bailable. After the complainant filed a supplementary complaint on 4 September alleging derogatory remarks, provisions of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and Section 351(3) of the BNS were added, and Bhardwaj was arrested.
According to the complaint, Bhardwaj and associates surrounded and assaulted the complainant with fists and a hard object resembling a kada, causing two lacerated wounds to the head. These are the complainant’s allegations. The complainant is not identified in this report.
Interim bail and the investigation
The Court had earlier granted Bhardwaj three weeks’ interim bail, on 15 September 2026.
On that date, the Court highlighted deficiencies and gaps in the investigation and sought a status report from the investigating officer.
Regular bail
The Court has now granted regular bail. The conditions imposed and the reasons recorded are not yet available, and this report will not speculate on them. Bail is not a finding on the merits of the allegations.
Case Details: State v. Swatantra Bhardwaj | FIR registered at Parliament Street Police Station, New Delhi | Court: Additional Sessions Judge Saurabh Pratap Singh Laler, Patiala House Courts | Status: Regular bail granted; detailed order awaited. Allegations untested; no charge established.
Appearances: Not reported.