New Delhi, October 6 (H.S.): The Patiala House Court has granted regular bail to Swatantra Bhardwaj, who was accused of assaulting the father of a protesting student during a demonstration at Jantar Mantar. Additional Sessions Judge Saurabh Pratap Singh passed the order granting Bhardwaj regular bail.

The court had earlier granted Swatantra Bhardwaj interim bail for three weeks on September 15. Bhardwaj was arrested from Bulandshahr, Uttar Pradesh, on September 4. In a podcast, he had allegedly admitted to striking the father of a protesting student on the head.

Following the podcast, workers of Kakroach Janta Party and activists of some political parties staged a protest outside the Sansad Marg Police Station. Subsequently, an FIR was registered against Swatantra Bhardwaj under provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar