Hindutva Influencer Denies ‘Skull Crack’ Claim, Calls Viral Video Fake
Swatantra Bhardwaj Says Jantar Mantar Assault Was In Self-Defence
Hindutva influencer Swatantra Bhardwaj, facing criticism over an alleged claim that he had “cracked” a person’s skull during a protest, on Friday denied making the remarks and called the video being circulated online “fake”.
A viral clip from a podcast purportedly showed Bhardwaj claiming that he attacked the father of CJP activist Nishu Azad during protests in Delhi and faced no police action. The clip triggered a major controversy on social media, with political leaders, including Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, reacting to it.
Bhardwaj said the incident was an act of self-defence, claiming he was surrounded by 10-15 people and feared being lynched or killed. He said the man was hit on the head by his kada when he acted in self-defence.
He also said the injured man did not suffer serious injuries, citing a medical report referenced by Delhi Police, and said he was cooperating with the investigation.
Bhardwaj alleged that the podcast clip shared by Rahul Gandhi and others was fabricated. He also rejected claims that his release followed political intervention, saying references to Delhi minister Kapil Mishra and LJP leader Chirag Paswan in the podcast were made sarcastically.