Delhi High Court to hear habeas corpus petition for detained influencer Swatantra Bhardwaj
The Delhi High Court will consider a habeas corpus petition on Monday for right-wing influencer Swatantra Bhardwaj, who was arrested last week over an alleged assault at a Jantar Mantar protest.
A habeas corpus petition concerning Swatantra Bhardwaj will be heard by the Delhi High Court on Monday, following his arrest last Friday. Bhardwaj, known for his right-wing commentary, was implicated in an alleged assault on a student activist’s father during a protest at Jantar Mantar, after a video showed him saying he had "cracked the skull" of the man. He was initially detained in Bulandshahr, Uttar Pradesh, transferred to Delhi where a court ordered a day of police custody, and subsequently placed in one-day judicial custody under the SC/ST Act.
His counsel urged an urgent hearing before Chief Justice DK Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia, citing three days of confinement. The Delhi Police produced Bhardwaj via video link before Duty Magistrate Anjali Singh of Patiala House Court. On Saturday, supporters assembled outside the Parliament Street police station, calling for the case’s withdrawal and a fair investigation.
Why it matters
The hearing could determine whether Bhardwaj's detention complies with legal standards and reflects broader tensions over free speech and protest in India.
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