Chirag Paswan Files Complaint Against Influencer Over Misuse of Name in Assault Case
Union Minister Chirag Paswan's Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) has filed a formal complaint against social media influencer Swatantra Bhardwaj, accusing him of falsely invoking Paswan's name in connection with an alleged assault on the father of a student activist during a protest in July.
In the complaint, Paswan's party said that neither Paswan nor the party had any association with Bhardwaj, and that they stood in solidarity with the activist and her injured father. Seeking protection from what it called Bhardwaj's 'false' public claims, the party urged the Delhi Police to take action.
Addressing the media on Friday, Paswan said Bhardwaj had misused his name and those of other leaders to create an impression that he had political backing. 'In public life, many people come to meet us and take pictures. But if on that basis they claim to be personal acquaintances, then that is a misuse of our name,' Paswan said. He added that Bhardwaj had tried to suggest that no action had been taken against him because of Paswan and his party's support.
Paswan demanded strict action against Bhardwaj, citing a video in which the influencer bragged about beating the activist's father so severely that his skull was cracked, an injury that required 60 stitches. 'The individual is openly admitting to having beaten someone so severely that it could potentially have resulted in their death. If no action is taken, then I believe it will set a very wrong precedent for the country and the public,' Paswan said.
He confirmed that his party had lodged the complaint and urged the Delhi Police to conduct an impartial investigation. 'Given the gravity of the matter and since that individual has misused my name, along with the names of several other politicians, I have lodged a formal complaint against him and have also urged the Delhi Police to conduct an impartial investigation,' he added.
Paswan also assured support to the student activist and her father, saying, 'We are with the victim's family. Ensuring justice for them is my and my party's responsibility.'
The controversy stems from a podcast in which Bhardwaj claimed he was involved in an assault during a July protest by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) at Jantar Mantar in Delhi. In the video, he said he 'cracked the skull' of the activist's father and still managed to avoid being jailed. He also invoked the names of several political leaders, including Paswan, Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary, and Delhi minister Kapil Mishra, claiming they were his 'elder brothers' and that he had their support.
Photographs of Bhardwaj with these leaders, including Paswan, have also surfaced on social media, drawing further criticism.
The Delhi Police detained Bhardwaj in Uttar Pradesh on Friday, hours after members of the CJP, along with Azad Samaj Party (Kanshi Ram) chief and Nagina MP Chandrashekhar Azad and MP Pappu Yadav, protested outside the Parliament Street police station. The protesters demanded Bhardwaj's arrest for the assault he boasted about in the interview. The police had assured them that action would be taken within 72 hours.
Paswan's complaint adds to the growing pressure on authorities to act against Bhardwaj, whose remarks have sparked widespread outrage. The case highlights concerns about the misuse of political connections and the need for accountability in public discourse.
