Man held for brandishing of sword during procession in Gurugram

When news of his arrest spread, members of certain right-wing groups reached the City Police Station and protested

Updated on: Jun 22, 2023, 00:34:47 IST

By Leena Dhankhar

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Gurugram police on Wednesday arrested a member of a Hindu right-wing group for allegedly taking part in a procession in the Sadar Bazar and Old Railway Road areas of the city without permission on April 2, police said.

Police said Kulbhushan Bhardwaj claimed that he was involved in the controversy over offering namaz in public spaces in Gurugram (Representational image)

Police said that the suspect Kulbhushan Bhardwaj, who is also the former president of the district bar association, was part of the procession during which participants brandished swords and chanted religious slogans near a mosque the Old Railway Road during the procession held on Ram Navami. In a video, Bhardwaj too is seen waving a sword.

Police had registered a case on April 2 against unidentified suspects and served notices to eight to 10 people to appear before the City Police Station on Wednesday. Bhardwaj was produced before the court on Wednesday and was granted interim bail, said police, adding that he will be produced before court on Thursday as well.

Police said Bhardwaj claimed that he was involved in the controversy over offering namaz in public spaces in Gurugram.

When news of Bhardwaj’s arrest spread, members of certain right-wing groups reached the City Police Station and protested.

On April 2, hundreds of people from various Hindu right-wing groups took out a procession in several areas of the city. Some people waved swords during the procession, videos of which surfaced on social media websites. The police had taken suo moto cognisance and registered an FIR under sections 153A, 504 and 144 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) at the City Police Station.

Bhardwaj, meanwhile, said that he was being singled out. “Police have arrested only me while others were let go,” Bhardwaj said.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Leena Dhankhar
Leena Dhankhar is Senior Editor and Bureau Chief, Gurugram, at Hindustan Times, where she has spent over 17 years chronicling the transformation of one of India's fastest-growing urban regions. From starting her career as a crime reporter to leading the Gurugram bureau, her journalism has been defined by investigative reporting, in-depth storytelling and an unwavering focus on public interest. Over nearly two decades, she has reported extensively across crime, politics, civic governance, elections, real estate, environment, courts, sports, education and entertainment, covering Gurugram, Faridabad, Nuh and Palwal. Her reporting has exposed several major scams and systemic failures, including insurance frauds, waste management irregularities, illegal arms manufacturing units in Nuh, illegal mining in the Aravallis, organised crime networks and governance lapses affecting millions of residents. Known for her investigative work and exclusive stories, Leena has reported on high-impact national issues, including the Nicaragua charter flight carrying Indian migrants that was turned back amid allegations of human trafficking, exposing the growing network of illegal immigration rackets. Her work has also focused on gang wars, prison administration, juvenile crime, women and child protection systems, the functioning of the Juvenile Justice Board and Child Welfare Committee, and environmental challenges such as pollution, waterlogging and deteriorating civic infrastructure. Beyond hard news, Leena has extensively documented Haryana's rich heritage, forests and wildlife, bringing attention to the state's historical landmarks, biodiversity, conservation efforts and ecological challenges through immersive reportage and feature writing. Her journalism has consistently gone beyond breaking news. She has documented Gurugram's rapid urbanisation through long-form narratives and enterprise reporting on issues ranging from pothole-ridden roads, flooding and waste management to the changing social fabric of India's Millennium City. She also writes widely read feature columns, including The Outsider, Changemaker, and Concern for Gurugram, profiling people, places and ideas shaping the city's identity. Leena is the author of Gurugram School Murder, published by Juggernaut Books, a deeply reported account of one of India's most high-profile school murder investigations. She is currently working on her second book, an investigative work exploring some of India's most significant scams and fraud investigations. Beyond print journalism, she has expanded her storytelling through public speaking and digital media. She is a TEDx speaker and has produced podcasts exploring Gurugram's transformation, civic challenges and untold stories. Her work reflects a commitment to narrative journalism that combines rigorous reporting with compelling storytelling. A law graduate with an MBA in Human Resources, Leena brings a multidisciplinary perspective to her reporting, particularly on governance, public policy and legal affairs. She has travelled extensively across India to pursue investigative assignments, often reporting from remote locations and conflict-prone areas in search of stories that matter.Read More