New Delhi, India – Union Minister and Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) president Chirag Paswan has filed a complaint with Delhi Police against Hindutva influencer Swatantra Bhardwaj, accusing him of falsely invoking his name to claim political protection in connection with the assault on the father of a student activist during protests at Jantar Mantar in July. The complaint, dated September 4, seeks registration of an FIR against Bhardwaj and strict action, while also asking police to formally record that neither Paswan nor his party has any connection with Bhardwaj or the incident.
The complaint follows a resurfaced video in which Bhardwaj claimed he had “cracked the skull” of Nishu Aazad’s father during a CJP-led protest and managed to avoid jail because of his political connections. In the video, Bhardwaj invoked the names of several leaders, saying, “Kapil Mishra is my elder brother… Chirag Paswan is my elder brother… I have everyone’s support.” Paswan publicly distanced himself from Bhardwaj, stating that the use of his name amounted to misuse of his identity. “In public life, many people come to meet us, but if on that basis they claim to be personal acquaintances, then that is a misuse of our name,” he said.
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Paswan urged Delhi Police to conduct an impartial investigation, emphasizing the seriousness of the incident. “The way a person is openly admitting that he beat someone so severely that it could possibly have led to their death… if no action is taken against him, then this will set a very wrong example,” he said. The Parliament Street police have added several provisions to the existing FIR against Bhardwaj, including criminal intimidation, SC/ST Act provisions, attempt to murder, and grievous injury. A fresh FIR has also been registered under the POCSO Act on a complaint by a minor victim alleging online threats and harassment.
