Bhardwaj was arrested from Bulandshahr after allegedly assaulting the father of a minor activist during a July protest at Jantar Mantar. Police have now added SC/ST Atrocities Act and criminal intimidation charges to the FIR, along with a fresh FIR under POCSO for online threats. The case also invokes the new Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and IT Act. CJP had demanded stronger action, including attempt-to-murder charges, following Bhardwaj’s own admission of cracking someone’s skull; though he later claimed it was self-defence. Police say injuries were ‘simple’ and caused by a steel bracelet. The heightened security includes barricades and paramilitary deployment, ahead of expected protests. This isn’t just about one arrest; it’s a flashpoint testing how law enforcement handles politically charged cases involving influencers, minors, and caste laws.