‘Feel the power!’ Swatantra Bhardwaj's Instagram story after assaulting protester
Influencer Swatantra Bhardwaj is facing scrutiny after posting an Instagram story following allegations that he assaulted a protester's father. Delhi Police have clarified that while an injury occurred, claims of a skull fracture were medically unsupported.
Why it matters
The incident highlights the intersection of social media influence, political polarization, and the role of law enforcement in managing public protests.
NEW DELHI: “Feel the power!” influencer Swatantra Bhardwaj posted a photograph flaunting his kada on Instagram, days after allegedly boasting in a podcast about “cracking” the skull of a CJP protester’s father during a scuffle at Jantar Mantar.The Instagram story came around the time Delhi Police issued a clarification on the case, saying Sanjay Kumar, father of student protester Nishu Azad, suffered a head injury during the CJP protest but rejecting claims that his skull had been fractured.In the podcast video that triggered a political row, Bhardwaj is heard claiming, “I cracked the skull of Nishu's father,” while alleging that his political connections had helped him avoid jail.He claimed that a call from Delhi minister Kapil Mishra had helped him remain free and referred to Mishra, Chirag Paswan and Prime Minister Narendra Modi as his “elder brothers”, claiming to enjoy their support.Delhi Police rejected allegations of political interference as “factually…
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