New Delhi, Sep 15: A Delhi court on Tuesday granted three weeks’ interim bail to Swatantra Bhardwaj in a case related to the alleged assault of the father of a student activist during a protest at Jantar Mantar in June.
The court said Bhardwaj’s plea for regular bail would be considered after assessing his conduct during the interim period.
The court observed that bail carries the responsibility of complying with judicial conditions and cautioned against treating the relief as a public victory through rallies or social media campaigns.
It said matters relating to the alleged June 23 incident should be determined through judicial proceedings and evidence rather than public statements.
Bhardwaj had been in custody for more than 10 days when the court considered his plea. The judge noted that his custodial interrogation had been completed and that the offences in the case carry a maximum punishment of up to seven years.
The court also considered the safety of the complainant and his minor daughter and said appropriate conditions could address those concerns while protecting the accused’s right to personal liberty under Article 21 of the Constitution.
Bhardwaj was released on a personal bond of Rs 50,000 with a surety of the same amount.
As part of the bail conditions, he has been prohibited from contacting the complainant, his daughter or witnesses and from interfering with evidence.
He has also been barred from discussing the case, his defence or the complainant’s family on social media or other media platforms.
The court further directed him to cooperate with the investigation, provide his address and contact details, and not leave the country without permission.
He will have to surrender once the three-week interim bail period ends.Bhardwaj was detained in Bulandshahr on September 4 following protests demanding his arrest.
He was subsequently questioned by Delhi Police and sent to judicial custody.The matter has been listed for further proceedings on October 6. The proceedings on Tuesday were conducted in camera.
