New Delhi: Even earlier than Swatantra Bhardwaj set foot in Delhi as a university pupil, the boy from Patna had a transparent aim in thoughts: changing into the face of the Hindutva ecosystem. His Fb and Instagram profiles function images with BJP leaders, alongside movies of Bhardwaj giving his two cents on gender, reservation and all issues Hindutva.
On Thursday, he was detained in Uttar Pradesh’s Bulandshahr, barely hours after the Delhi Police invoked sections of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act in opposition to him in a case the place he stands accused of assaulting the daddy of a 14-year-old Dalit content material creator in the course of the Cockroach Janta Occasion (CJP) protest in New Delhi on 23 July. A senior Delhi Police officer advised ThePrint {that a} contemporary new case was registered late Friday night time in opposition to Bhardwaj below the Safety of Kids from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
Earlier this week, Bhardwaj admitted on a podcast that he “cracked open” the minor lady’s father’s cranium, however no motion was taken in opposition to him. His remarks triggered backlash, with the CJP and Indian Youth Congress (IYC) protesting Friday exterior Delhi’s Parliament Road police station to demand that sections of the SC/ST Act be invoked in opposition to him.
Over the previous few weeks, Bhardwaj has routinely appeared on TV panels, interviews, and podcasts. However a better have a look at his social media presence exhibits Bhardwaj constructed this self-styled clout over a number of years.
His content material depends closely on Hindutva, AI-generated posters and is replete with images of BJP leaders together with Bihar CM Samrat Choudhary, Delhi minister Kapil Mishra, and Lok Sabha MP Manoj Tiwari, amongst others. One of many images present him with Union minister and Lok Janshakti Occasion (Ram Vilas) president Chirag Paswan.
Paswan, a Dalit chief himself, condemned Bhardwaj’s actions Friday, saying that the allegations in opposition to him had been extraordinarily severe. “The way in which an individual is overtly admitting that he beat somebody so severely that it might presumably have led to their demise. To overtly admit this on a podcast and even after that, if no motion is taken in opposition to him, then I imagine this can set a really improper instance earlier than the nation and the individuals,” he mentioned.
Including, “Understanding the seriousness of this matter, and since that particular person has misused my title together with the names of a number of politicians, I’ve additionally filed an official criticism in opposition to that particular person. On the similar time, I’ve urged the Delhi Police that there needs to be a good investigation into this matter.”
Ever since Bhardwaj started posting content material on Instagram usually, views have shot up from 20,000 per reel on common to over 250,000. he routinely tracks his personal viral attain. On Thursday, when his podcast gained traction, he shared a screenshot, exhibiting his title trending at quantity 10 on X in India. “Love you all virodhi (enemies),” he wrote.
Throughout platforms, the ‘self-proclaimed’ Hindutva influencer has cultivated a following of roughly 187,000 on Instagram and greater than 326,000 on Fb. Behind this social media presence of a “kattar (staunch) Hindu” is a 21-year-old pupil from Patna.
Additionally Learn: SC/ST Act invoked against Hindutva influencer who bragged about ‘cracking skull’ amid CJP pressure
‘Don’t fill varieties to hitch Delhi Police’
Bhardwaj accomplished his education from Don Bosco Academy, Patna, and enrolled in Delhi College in 2022. In the course of the CJP protests, he posted movies of himself strolling round carrying wood sticks, overtly boasting that he was the “actual gunda (goon)”.
He additionally launched an Instagram deal with referred to as ‘Aarthik Aarakshan Morcha’ to marketing campaign for financial reservation and the rollback of College Grants Fee (UGC) Fairness Rules, 2026, which the Supreme Court docket has placed on maintain.
The motion was backed by ‘Sanatani’ and Hindutva influencers, like Azad Vinod, Mohit, and Ankit Kumar who uploaded selfies to specific assist.
As his digital presence gained traction, so did his means to mobilise. On 21 August, Bhardwaj was amongst those that mobilised greater than 300 individuals at Jantar Mantar as a part of the ‘Reservation Hatao Andolan’.
His “recognisable” on-line presence was garnering assist till his feedback on a podcast triggered backlash. In it, Bhardwaj admitted to bodily assaulting the daddy of the content material creator.
“I cracked open her father’s head. You already know which part is added in a case like this. Part 307 half homicide is utilized. He had seven stitches on his head. He was virtually dying, and was going within the ambulance. His daughter stood exterior the police station and mentioned, if her father doesn’t get justice, she’s going to eat poison and can die,” he could be heard saying.
Within the viral podcast, Bhardwaj repeatedly flaunts his closeness to BJP leaders, as if to elucidate why no motion was taken in opposition to him. “Swatantra was out the following day. I didn’t even go to jail. I used to be roaming across the complete night time. Your entire world ought to know this,” he says.
He provides, “Kapil Mishra is like my elder brother. These individuals (CJP) are saying a name got here from Kapil Mishra and I used to be launched. Kapil Mishra is my elder brother; Chirag Paswan is my elder brother, all of them. Inform me which chief you understand? You already know (PM Narendra) Modi ji? Modi ji can be my elder brother. I’ve everybody’s assist.”
Requested the place he received the sticks used in opposition to the CJP protesters, Bhardwaj factors at his shoe. “This shoe belongs to Delhi Police. We don’t fill varieties to hitch Delhi Police. We robotically be part of them.”
Deputy Commissioner of Police (New Delhi) Sachin Sharma confirmed {that a} criticism was obtained in opposition to Bhardwaj on 23 July.
Gaurakshaks, Israel & Muslim ladies
When he’s not posting images with leaders, the Hindutva influencer uploads content material of himself alongside gau rakshaks and shares AI-generated graphics, saying assist for Israel.
A look at his social media posts additionally present AI-generated pictures of Muslim ladies carrying burqas and abayas, with controversial captions comparable to ‘Shakina ko Pakistan nahi jaane denge (gained’t permit Shakina to go Pakistan)’ and ‘Pakistan ka jija (father-in-law of Pakistan)’.
The influencer from Bihar additionally wholeheartedly commits himself on social media for holding a watch on these whom Prime Minister Narendra Modi recognized as ‘Dimagi Naxal’.
“Hum assertion wale nai hai, ilaaj karne wale hain. Dimagi Naxal ka ilaaj karna hai (We’re not those who simply make statements; we’re those who present a remedy. Now we have to deal with Dimagi Naxal),” he proclaims in a single video.
‘Actual Hindutva isn’t about chasing limelight’
Even inside the Hindutva ecosystem, opinions about Swatantra Bhardwaj are divided.
A Proper-wing activist, who was a part of the anti-reservation protest alongside Bhardwaj, opposed the remarks he made in the course of the podcast.
“Swatantra isn’t as well-known as individuals are making him out to be. I’ve seen him take part in protests, and he normally speaks on UGC, reservation and different nationwide points,” the activist advised ThePrint, requesting anonymity.
Including, “Trustworthy Proper-wing employees aren’t ‘kattar (staunch)’ like him. That podcast video was insensitive. What occurred shouldn’t have occurred. You’ll be able to’t rejoice assault, and brag about it. Against the law is a criminal offense.”
One other Proper-wing influencer dismissed Bharadwaj and his actions. “Such individuals create such content material to realize social media likes, feedback and followers. Nothing else,” he advised ThePrint. Including, “Actual Hindutva isn’t about chasing the limelight, it’s about sincere work. It’s not finished loudly, however quietly.”
However, an IYC member maintained that Bharadwaj thrives due to patronage from a piece of political leaders. “No matter social media affect he has, it’s endorsed by the Proper-wing ecosystem and the ruling social gathering. He’s overtly dropping names of leaders he’s near. What does that imply?”
“When the Delhi Police has CCTV protection throughout protest websites to determine perpetrators of significant crimes, how is that this one who usually uploads content material the place he threatens individuals, together with ladies, roaming round, with out dealing with strict authorized motion?” the IYC member requested.
If one other Hindutva influencer is to be believed, there’s an altogether completely different sub-plot within the episode that landed Bhardwaj in hassle. Bhardwaj, he claimed, opposes the minor content material creator and her father as a result of “she makes offensive remarks in opposition to Hindu deities and sadhus”.
“Her father had attacked Bhardwaj first. He retaliated in self-defence,” the influencer claimed, including that Bhardwaj was additionally injured. “The (CJP) protest was initially meant to assist college students dealing with real points, but it surely received derailed by abuse and violence.”
(Edited by Amrtansh Arora)
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