The Supreme Court on Thursday expressed serious concern over allegations that a 14-year-old girl who participated in the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protests was harassed after pursuing a criminal case. The girl’s counsel told the court that her home was allegedly vandalised and that she faced harassment after an FIR was registered against right-wing influencer Swatantra Bhardwaj, who is accused in connection with the alleged assault on the girl’s father during the CJP-led protest in July.
A bench led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant said no one could be allowed to intimidate a victim or their family into abandoning criminal proceedings. “There cannot be any second opinion about it. Such matters cannot be taken lightly. Nobody should be protected,” the court observed.
The bench further said that attempts to pressure a child or her family could amount to a serious matter. “If violence against a child is involved and persons are roaming free and trying to browbeat the child or the family so that they do not pursue the criminal proceedings, then it's a serious matter,” the court said.
The case against Swatantra Bhardwaj intensified earlier this month after Delhi Police added provisions of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and criminal intimidation to the FIR over the alleged assault. Bhardwaj was detained in Uttar Pradesh’s Bulandshahr after the CJP staged a protest outside Delhi’s Parliament Street police station, demanding his arrest. The controversy followed a podcast in which Swatantra Bhardwaj allegedly claimed that he had “cracked the skull” of the minor activist’s father during the July 20 protest.
During Thursday’s hearing, the girl’s lawyer alleged that, instead of acting against individuals allegedly seen accompanying the accused, an FIR had been registered against the child. The counsel also claimed that the girl’s residence had been targeted with stone-pelting and said video evidence could be placed before the court. “The high-powered committee will take time, but if something happens to the child in the meantime, that cannot subsequently be reversed or repaired through the committee,” the lawyer submitted.
Responding to the allegations, the CJI said the matter required serious attention. “If there are anti-social elements who indulged in violence against child, and they are roaming free, and are trying to browbeat the child, that may be a serious thing,” he said. The bench, also comprising Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V. Mohana, asked Solicitor General Tushar Mehta to ensure appropriate action on the girl’s FIR. The Supreme Court also sought reports from the Delhi and Uttar Pradesh governments on the allegations.
