A Delhi court has granted three weeks' interim bail to influencer Swatantra Bhardwaj in connection with the alleged assault of the father of a student activist during a protest at Jantar Mantar earlier this year. While granting relief, the court raised concerns regarding certain aspects of the Delhi Police investigation and imposed strict conditions on the accused.
The court observed that the investigation record reflected inconsistencies, particularly regarding allegations of caste-based abuse. During the proceedings, it emerged that the initial complaint did not mention any caste-related slurs, and such allegations surfaced only in a subsequent statement, after which provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act were added to the case.
Noting that Bhardwaj had already spent more than ten days in custody and that custodial interrogation had been completed, the court held that the balance between the complainant's protection and the accused's right to personal liberty could be maintained through stringent bail conditions.
The court directed that Bhardwaj shall not post, publish, discuss, or comment on the case, his defence, or the complainant's family on any media or social media platform. He was also restrained from contacting the complainant, the complainant's daughter, or any prosecution witness. Additional conditions included cooperation with the investigation, non-tampering with evidence, and restrictions on foreign travel without prior court permission.
The judge remarked that "bail is an expression of the court's trust" and cautioned against treating bail as a public spectacle. The court emphasized that issues arising from the June protest must be adjudicated in a court of law based on evidence rather than through public commentary or social media narratives.
The matter has been listed for further proceedings, with the court indicating that Bhardwaj's conduct during the interim bail period will be taken into account while deciding his regular bail application.