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🇮🇳 India /Conflict & Security

‘Swatantra Bhardwaj Could Be Attacked in Jail,’ Right-Wing Creator’s Lawyer Claims

From Hindustan Times · () English

Translated from English and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Named sources In the courts
  • A Delhi court sent content creator Swatantra Bhardwaj to one day of judicial custody over an alleged assault during a protest at Jantar Mantar.
  • His lawyer, Piyush Jain, claimed Bhardwaj could be attacked in jail and asked authorities to ensure his security.
  • Jain also said police had added a case under the POCSO Act, while describing the allegations against Bhardwaj as fabricated.

Swatantra Bhardwaj could face an attack in jail, his lawyer claimed after a Delhi court sent the 21-year-old content creator to one day of judicial custody.

Yesterday, the police produced Swatantra Bharadwaj via video conferencing and obtained one day of police custody.

· Piyush JainBhardwaj’s lawyer described the procedure used to secure the initial police remand.

Bhardwaj was arrested over the alleged assault of a 38-year-old man who was attending a protest at Jantar Mantar with his 14-year-old daughter. A Delhi court had first granted one day of police custody before sending him to judicial custody on Sunday.

Speaking to news agency ANI, lawyer Piyush Jain said police had produced Bhardwaj by video conference to obtain the initial remand. He said the Duty Metropolitan Magistrate could only send the accused to judicial custody because that court could not hear bail applications. The substantive hearing, he said, would take place before the designated court for cases under the SC/ST Act.

Additionally, we learned that another case under the POCSO Act was registered against him yesterday evening; that matter, too, will be heard in the relevant designated court.

· Piyush JainJain said authorities had registered an additional case under the child-protection law.

Jain also said authorities had registered another case under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act. He called the allegations against his client “completely fabricated” and said the POCSO and SC/ST provisions had been added after a two-month gap.

All the allegations against him are completely fabricated. They have suddenly invoked the POCSO Act and the SC/ST Act after a gap of two months.

· Piyush JainThe lawyer rejected the allegations and criticized the timing of the added charges.

“The most critical issue is the intent behind sending him to jail,” Jain said. He claimed Bhardwaj could be attacked by “anti-national elements” seeking to send a message to the Government of India, and urged the central government and Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta to arrange comprehensive protection for him inside Tihar Jail.

We have received information suggesting that Swatantra Bharadwaj could be attacked while in jail; certain anti-national elements aim to attack him to send a message to the Government of India.

· Piyush JainJain cited the alleged threat in his appeal for heightened security at Tihar Jail.
About this summary

Originally published by Hindustan Times in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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