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An alleged assault case that took place in the month of June at Delhi's Jantar Mantar once again gained prominence. Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) team reached Parliament Street police station on Friday morning and demanded strict action against activist Swatantra Bhardwaj. The matter escalated when an old podcast clip of Swatantra Bhardwaj went viral on social media. In the podcast, he allegedly talked about the attack on Sanjay Kumar, father of CJP worker Nishu Azad. He said that he had broken Sanjay Kumar's skull.

During the protest at Jantar Mantar, Sanjay Kumar, father of student activist Nishu Azad, associated with the organization, was allegedly attacked, in which he suffered a head injury. At the time of the incident, Suraj Kumar and Swatantra Bhardwaj were detained by the police from the spot. Both of them call themselves influencers associated with Hindutva.

What is the whole controversy?

On June 23, 2026, when CJP was protesting at Jantar Mantar in Delhi, during the same protest, Sanjay Kumar, father of student activist Nishu Azad associated with the organization, was allegedly attacked, due to which he suffered head injury. The matter came into limelight again months later when an old podcast clip of Swatantra Bhardwaj went viral on social media.

In the video, Swatantra Bhardwaj said that he had cracked Sanjay Kumar's skull and he needed 60 stitches. This clip was shared on social media by many leaders and people including Rahul Gandhi, after which it became a political controversy.

When, what happened?

• 23 June 2026: Sanjay Kumar, a resident of Ghaziabad, suffered head injury in a scuffle during CJP's protest at Jantar Mantar. Suraj Kumar and Swatantra Bhardwaj were detained by the police from the spot.
• FIR registered, but no action: According to Nishu Azad, the family had lodged an FIR against Bhardwaj, but the police did not take any concrete action for one and a half months.
• In early September, an old podcast clip of Swatantra Bhardwaj went viral, in which he confessed to attacking Nishu's father.
• Nishu Azad released a video on
• 3 September 2026: CJP spokesperson Saurav Das posted on X demanding imposition of Section 307 (attempt to murder).
• 3 September 2026: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi wrote in Hindi on X that Nishu, there is no need to panic. I am with you.
• September 4, 2026 (today): Swatantra Bhardwaj, while talking to ANI, clarified that it was not an attack but self-defense, 10-15 people had surrounded him, the police medical report did not indicate any serious injury. CJP's team (Saurav Das, Ashutosh Ranka) reached Parliament Street police station and demanded action.

What did Rahul Gandhi say?

Where did the controversy start?

The incident took place on June 23, 2026, at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi, in which Sanjay Kumar, resident of Ghaziabad (Uttar Pradesh), was injured. He was taken to RML Hospital in Delhi for treatment, and the FIR in the case was also registered in Delhi itself. As the controversy escalated, on 4 September 2026, CJP's team reached Parliament Street Police Station, New Delhi and demanded action. Whereas accused Swatantra Bhardwaj from Bulandshahr of Uttar Pradesh has given his clarification.

Swatantra Bhardwaj's clarification

Giving clarification, Swatantra Bhardwaj said that what they are terming as an attack was not an attack. It was self defense. If we had not done this in self-defense, I could have been mob lynched that day.

Who are involved in this controversy?

Prominently involved in the controversy are Sanjay Kumar, who was injured in the attack, and his daughter Nishu Azad, a student-activist and social media influencer. On the other hand, the accused are Swatantra Bhardwaj and Suraj Kumar, who call themselves influencers associated with Hindutva. CJP spokesperson Saurav Das and co-convenor Ashutosh Ranka are demanding action. Rahul Gandhi supported Nishu and raised questions on Amit Shah (Union Home Minister) and Delhi Police. Swatantra Bhardwaj has taken the name of Delhi Minister Kapil Mishra in his defence, due to whose influence he was saved from jail.

How did the controversy start?

There was a clash during the protest at Jantar Mantar, in which Sanjay Kumar got head injury. According to the police, the injury was minor and was caused by a bracelet on the hand of one of the accused. Swatantra Bhardwaj and Suraj Kumar were caught by the police from the spot. No major action was taken in this matter for one and a half months. Then an old podcast of Bhardwaj surfaced, in which he himself said that he attacked Sanjay Kumar, he said that I broke his skull and he got 60 stitches.

Swatantra Bhardwaj also said that due to political influence and calls from leaders, he did not have to go to jail. After this video surfaced, the matter again escalated. Nishu Azad sought help from Rahul Gandhi, Rahul supported and raised questions. Then CJP reached the police station and demanded strict action, while Bhardwaj said that he only acted in self-defense and not an attack.