Swatantra Bhardwaj, an influencer accused of attacking a student activist's father on the head during a Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protest at Jantar Mantar in June, has claimed that it was an act of "self-defence" since he was on the verge of being lynched by a mob.

In a conversation with NDTV, Bhardwaj, a self-proclaimed Hindu and Gau Rakshak (cow protector), said that he struck the protester's father with his iron bracelet in self-defence.

"I struck Nishu's father on the head with my kada (iron bracelet) in self-defence," he told NDTV.

Bhardwaj didn't appear to have any remorse. He further said that he would do it again if similar attempts were made to target him.

"If I am cornered like that again and attempts are made to target me, I will strike with my kada once more," he said.

Claims vs Claims

Sanjay Kumar, father of Nishu -- a teenage protester -- was attacked on the head during a protest in July that led to the resignation of then Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. Bhardwaj is accused of launching the assault on Kumar, about which he boasted on a podcast.

In a viral clip from a podcast, Bhardwaj is heard claiming he "cracked the skull" and was "not even jailed." He boasted about being free and out and about on the night of the assault.

"I cracked the skull of Nishu's father. Do you know which section this crime attracts? Section 307. He needed 60 stitches. The man was being taken away in an ambulance in serious condition.

"His daughter was standing outside the police station and saying that she would die by suicide if her father didn't get justice. But I was not even jailed. The world should know this. I was out and about through the night," Bhardwaj is heard saying in the video.

Bhardwaj made a U-turn after his comments went viral and said that whatever he claimed was said in a "joking manner".

"I am a social media influencer, so what I said was said in a joking manner. I was surrounded by a crowd at Jantar Mantar and was on the verge of being lynched by the mob. I struck Nishu's father on the head with my kada in self-defence," he told NDTV.

Influencer vs CJP

CJP supporters, led by spokesperson Saurav Das and co-convenor Ashutosh Ranka, marched to the Parliament Street Police Station in Delhi from Patel Chowk to press for Bhardwaj's arrest. CJP supporters have been joined by Azad Samaj Party chief Chandra Shekhar Aazad and are staging a protest outside the police station, demanding Bhardwaj's arrest.

Source: ndtv