Chirag Paswan files police complaint against influencer over name misuse in assault case

Union Minister and Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) president Chirag Paswan has filed a formal complaint with the Parliament Street police station in New Delhi against Hindutva influencer Swatantra Bhardwaj. The complaint accuses Bhardwaj of falsely and publicly invoking Paswan's name to suggest he had political protection in connection with an assault on the father of a student activist during protests at Jantar Mantar in July.

The complaint, dated September 4 and filed through advocate Sushil Kumar, the national president of the party's legal cell, seeks the registration of an FIR against Bhardwaj. It also requests the police to officially record that neither Paswan nor the LJP (Ram Vilas) has any connection with Bhardwaj or the incident.

The move follows the resurfacing of a video clip in which Bhardwaj is seen claiming he had "cracked the skull" of Sanjay Kumar, father of student activist Nishu Aazad, during a protest led by the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP). In the video, Bhardwaj allegedly boasted that he avoided jail due to his political connections, invoking the names of several leaders, including Paswan.

Paswan publicly distanced himself and his party from Bhardwaj on Friday, stating that while many people meet public figures, claiming personal acquaintance on that basis constitutes a misuse of the individual's name. He urged the Delhi Police to conduct an impartial investigation, calling the incident extremely serious.

"The way a person is openly admitting that he beat someone so severely that it could possibly have led to their death... if no action is taken against him, then I believe this will set a very wrong example before the country," Paswan said. He assured support to Aazad and her father, saying ensuring justice for the victim's family was his and his party's responsibility.

The complaint also states that the party had formally stood in support of Nishu Aazad and her father.

Meanwhile, the Parliament Street police have added several provisions to the existing FIR against Bhardwaj, including Section 351(3) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for criminal intimidation, along with provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, attempt to murder, and grievous injury.

A separate fresh FIR has also been registered under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act following a complaint by a minor alleging online threats and harassment. That case includes BNS Sections 78 and 79, relating to stalking and outraging modesty, and Section 67 of the Information Technology Act concerning obscene material.