Delhi Police Arrest of Influencer Swatantra Bhardwaj Challenged in High Court

The arrest of social media influencer Swatantra Bhardwaj in Uttar Pradesh’s Bulandshahr has come under scrutiny before the Delhi High Court, with his lawyer questioning the manner in which Delhi Police detained him in connection with a case related to a protest at Jantar Mantar.

During the hearing, Bhardwaj’s counsel argued that the Delhi Police went to Bulandshahr and arrested the influencer despite the case being registered in the national capital. The lawyer questioned the circumstances surrounding the arrest and challenged the legality of the police action. The matter was brought before the high court through a habeas corpus petition seeking Bhardwaj’s release.

The court was informed about the circumstances in which Bhardwaj was taken into custody. His counsel strongly objected to the manner of the arrest, arguing that the police had travelled outside Delhi to apprehend him. The defence maintained that there were serious questions surrounding the procedure followed by the investigating agency.

The case relates to a protest at Jantar Mantar, where Bhardwaj was allegedly involved in activities that subsequently resulted in a police case. The authorities maintained that his arrest was carried out as part of the investigation and that the police had acted within the law.

The Delhi Police opposed the habeas corpus plea and defended the arrest. The agency placed its position before the court regarding the investigation and the grounds on which Bhardwaj was taken into custody. The police argued that his detention was lawful and that the matter should be dealt with through the appropriate legal process.

The high court considered the submissions made by both sides before deciding on the petition. The defence’s challenge centred on the manner and circumstances of Bhardwaj’s arrest, while the police maintained that the detention was connected to the ongoing investigation.

After hearing the arguments, the court dismissed the habeas corpus petition. Bhardwaj was subsequently sent to 14 days of judicial custody, meaning he would remain in custody while the investigation and related legal proceedings continued.