Kejriwal's aide Bibhav Kumar arrested in Swati Maliwal assault case
The Delhi Police arrested Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's aide, Bibhav Kumar, on Saturday following allegations by Swati Maliwal that he assaulted her at the chief minister's residence on May 13. A Delhi Police team picked up Kumar from the chief minister's residence around noon and took him to the police station for interrogation. He will be produced at the Tis Hazari Court after some time.
Why does this story matter?
The arrest came after the police filed an FIR against Kumar, based on the statement given by Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Maliwal. In her complaint on May 16, Maliwal alleged that Kumar "slapped" her "seven to eight times," "brutally dragged" her, and kicked her in the "chest, stomach, and pelvis area." The AAP has, however, refuted the charges, with Atishi alleging that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) made Maliwal file the FIR using an old case as leverage.
Counter allegations and FIR controversy
Kumar had gone missing since the allegations surfaced and even failed to appear before the National Commission for Women (NCW) on Friday. The same day, Kumar filed a counter-complaint against Maliwal, accusing her of "trying to falsely implicate" him in an effort to "create undue pressure." In his complaint, he alleged that Maliwal was the instigator and even threatened to implicate him in a false case.
New CCTV footage shows Maliwal walking out of Kejriwal's home
Seeming to back Kumar, the AAP on Saturday shared new CCTV footage from May 13, showing Maliwal leaving Kejriwal's home, escorted out by the police and security guards. In the new CCTV footage, Maliwal appears to be unharmed and can even be seen attempting to free herself from the policewoman's grasp. "This video exposes the truth behind Swati Maliwal's allegations," the AAP wrote on X.
Maliwal's medical report
Meanwhile, Maliwal's medico-legal case (MLC) report showed she suffered injuries to her left leg dorsal and right cheek. "Swati Maliwal has a 3x2 centimeter bruise over her 'proximal left leg dorsal aspect' and another bruise of 2x2 centimeter bruise over her "right cheek below her right eye'," the report stated. The examination was conducted at the Jai Prakash Narayan Apex Trauma Center at AIIMS Delhi on May 16 night after she filed an FIR.
