Bhardwaj was detained by Delhi Police on Friday from Bulandshahr, Uttar Pradesh, months after he was allegedly involved in an assault on Sanjay Kumar, father of student activist Nishu Azad, during a protest organised by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) at Jantar Mantar in July.
The case gained attention after a purported video clip surfaced on social media in which Bhardwaj was allegedly heard claiming that he had "cracked the skull" of Sanjay Kumar and escaped jail due to political connections. Bhardwaj later denied attacking Kumar, saying he had acted in self-defence after being surrounded by protesters.
Police have also registered a fresh FIR under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act following a complaint involving a minor. The Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act has also been added to the earlier FIR.
Following the circulation of the video, CJP activists stepped up their demand for Bhardwaj's arrest and staged protests outside the Parliament Street police station on Friday.
Meanwhile, the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) said Bhardwaj had allegedly misused the name of Union Minister and party president Chirag Paswan to claim political protection. The party said it had no connection with the matter and had asked police to register an FIR against Bhardwaj, record the party's non-involvement and take strict action against him.
