Maliwal's FIR: 'Bibhav Kumar slapped, kicked, hit me on stomach'
The Delhi Police on Thursday registered an FIR against Bibhav Kumar, the personal assistant of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, for allegedly assaulting Aam Aadmi Party Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal. In the FIR, Maliwal has claimed that she was hit on the stomach, slapped, and kicked by Kumar in Kejriwal's drawing room while he was present in the house. After the complaint was registered, Maliwal was taken to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences for a medical check-up.
Kumar booked for assault, criminal intimidation
A two-member team, led by Additional Commissioner of Police PS Kushwaha, recorded Swati Maliwal's statement at around 1.50pm on Thursday. According to reports, Kumar was booked under Indian Penal Code Sections 354 (assault or use of criminal force on woman with intent to disrobe), 506 (criminal intimidation), 509 (word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman) and 323 (voluntarily causing hurt).
National Commission for Women summons Kumar
Earlier on Thursday, the National Commission for Women (NCW) took suo motu cognizance of the alleged assault on Maliwal, based on a social media post. The commission has summoned Kumar in relation to the incident and warned of further action if he fails to appear before them on Friday. Meanwhile, Delhi Police Special Cell and Crime Branch teams have been deployed to arrest Kumar.
Delhi Police receives distress call
On Monday, Delhi Police said it received two distress calls from Kejriwal's residence that Maliwal had been assaulted there. The callers claimed that Kejriwal's aide Kumar prevented the former Delhi Commission for Women Chairperson from meeting with the CM—who is out on bail—at his residence and allegedly harassed her. On the same day, Maliwal had visited the Civil Lines Police Station but left without lodging any complaint.
Maliwal breaks silence
Separately, after maintaining silence for four days, Maliwal, later on Thursday, acknowledged the alleged assault in a post on X (formerly Twitter). "What happened to me was very bad. I have given my statement to the police... I hope that appropriate action will be taken. The last few days have been very difficult for me," she said. Pointing out that the Lok Sabha elections are underway, she said, "Swati Maliwal is not important, the issues of the country are important."
