Delhi’s Patiala House Court on Tuesday granted regular bail to Swatantra Bhardwaj, who was arrested in connection with an alleged assault on a Scheduled Caste man during a protest at Jantar Mantar on June 23.
Additional Sessions Judge Saurabh Pratap Singh Laler granted Bhardwaj regular bail after the court found that he had not violated the conditions imposed while granting him interim bail. A detailed order is awaited.
The case concerns allegations that Bhardwaj and others assaulted Sanjay Azad, who belongs to the Scheduled Caste community, during a protest organised by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP).
Court Had Earlier Granted Three-Week Interim Bail
On September 15, the court had granted Bhardwaj three weeks of interim bail, subject to strict conditions. The court had directed that his conduct during the interim period would be considered before deciding his plea for regular bail.
Bhardwaj was required to furnish a bail bond of Rs 50,000 along with a surety of the same amount.
He was barred from making or sharing any statement, comment, video, podcast, interview, reel or post concerning the case, his defence, or the complainant and his family on social media, electronic or print media, or any other public platform.
He was also prohibited from contacting the complainant, his minor daughter, family members or prosecution witnesses, directly or indirectly, and was directed not to threaten, induce or influence them.
The court had said that public displays concerning a criminal case could undermine public confidence in the administration of justice. Referring to a Supreme Court ruling, it observed, “Bail is an expression of the Court’s trust, and it is not a trophy to be displayed.”
This story was originally published in theobserverpost.com. Read the full story here.
