The controversy centres on an incident involving Sanjay Kumar, the father of student protester Nishu Azad, during a demonstration at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar in July. Bhardwaj was accused of assaulting Kumar during a confrontation at the protest. The case gained renewed attention after an old podcast clip featuring Bhardwaj began circulating widely online. In the clip, Bhardwaj appeared to speak about the confrontation in highly provocative terms, claiming that he had attacked Nishu’s father and describing the alleged assault as a major incident. The video quickly triggered outrage, with critics demanding that police take action against him.

The controversy deepened because of the apparent difference between Bhardwaj’s comments in the podcast and his later explanation. After the clip went viral, he said the incident was self defence, claiming that he had been surrounded by several people and feared for his safety. He also said that videos and the medical report supported his version of events. Delhi Police, meanwhile, disputed some of the more serious claims circulating online about Sanjay Kumar’s injuries. Police said Kumar had suffered a head injury during the altercation but rejected claims that his skull had been fractured, saying the medical examination described the injuries as simple. Bhardwaj’s social media activity added another dimension to the controversy.

Around the time the dispute intensified, he posted content that critics interpreted as provocative, including an Instagram story displaying his iron bracelet, or kada, accompanied by the words “Feel the power.” The post drew further criticism online. The issue also acquired a political angle after Bhardwaj referred to his connections with political figures, including BJP leader Kapil Mishra. Opposition groups questioned whether such links had influenced the handling of the original case. Delhi Police has rejected allegations of political interference and maintained that the matter was being dealt with according to law. Pressure on the authorities increased after supporters of the protest group demonstrated outside the Parliament Street police station, demanding Bhardwaj’s arrest. The dispute subsequently moved from social media into a formal law enforcement action. Police eventually traced Bhardwaj to Bulandshahr, Uttar Pradesh, where he was detained. He was later brought to Delhi and arrested in connection with the Jantar Mantar assault case. A court subsequently granted police custody for one day.