A fresh development has intensified the controversy surrounding the Jantar Mantar assault case after a minor activist alleged that her residence was surrounded and stones and bricks were thrown at the house, hours after social media influencer Swatantra Bhardwaj was arrested by Delhi Police.
The activist, who is associated with the Citizens for Justice and Peace (CJP), shared a series of videos on social media on Saturday night and appealed to the Delhi and Ghaziabad Police for security and protection for her family. She alleged that people associated with the BJP had been surrounding their residence and expressed concern over the safety of her parents.
Editorial Insight
Key Highlights
Important points readers should notice.
Issue/Event: Fresh security allegations involving a minor activist's family.
Location: Delhi-NCR; the activist's residence is reported to be in the Ghaziabad area.
Authority/Organisation: Delhi Police and Ghaziabad Police have been approached for protection.
Action Taken: The activist appealed for security; the broader assault case remains under investigation.
Impact: The allegation adds a fresh security and political dimension to the already contentious Jantar Mantar case.
In another video, the activist alleged that people outside the house threw stones and bricks at the residence. The allegations have added a new layer to an already politically sensitive case involving the alleged assault of her father, Sanjay Azad, during a CJP protest at Jantar Mantar.
There has been no clear official police confirmation establishing who was responsible for the alleged stone-pelting. The claims therefore remain allegations and should not be treated as a confirmed attack or as proof of involvement by any political organisation.
The development came shortly after Delhi Police arrested Bhardwaj in connection with the alleged assault on the minor activist's father. Bhardwaj had been detained in Bulandshahr, Uttar Pradesh, on Friday and was subsequently arrested and produced before a Delhi court. He was remanded to one day of police custody.
Editorial Analysis
Why This Matters
The latest allegation puts the safety of a minor activist and her family at the centre of an increasingly contentious case. Any verified finding regarding the alleged attack could have implications for the ongoing investigation and the security arrangements around those involved.
The case had gained wider attention after a video podcast in which Bhardwaj allegedly claimed that he had seriously injured the protester's father during the confrontation. Bhardwaj has subsequently maintained that he acted in self-defence. Delhi Police had earlier said the injury suffered by Sanjay Azad was simple in nature and attributed it to a steel bracelet or kada, while denying claims of political interference in the investigation.
Following the arrest, the legal case has also expanded. Police added provisions under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and criminal intimidation provisions to the FIR, while a separate POCSO case was registered following allegations of online threats and harassment involving the minor activist.
The latest allegation of stone-pelting has now raised fresh questions over the security of the family and the circumstances surrounding the wider dispute. The matter remains under investigation, and responsibility for the alleged incident has yet to be officially established.
