A team from the Delhi Police visited Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MP Swati Maliwal’s residence on May 16 (Thursday) to record her statement regarding the alleged assault on her by a member of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s staff. The AAP MP filed a written complaint over the alleged assault by Arvind Kejriwal’s aide Bibhav Kumar.
The police team, led by an Additional Commissioner of Police (ACP) rank officer, spent nearly four hours gathering details from the Rajya Sabha MP, according to a source.
According to Delhi Police sources, Maliwal recounted the incident and the circumstances that led her to make a Police Control Room (PCR) call on Monday (May 13). Police initiated legal proceedings based on Swati’s statements, sources added.
An FIR is likely to be registered at Civil Lines Police Station based on the complaint.
Swati Maliwal assault case | AAP Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal has given a Police complaint: Delhi Police Sources pic.twitter.com/otd9NX7w47
— ANI (@ANI) May 16, 2024
Maliwal, who is an AAP Rajya Sabha MP and former head of the Delhi Commission for Women (DCW), alleged on Monday that a member of Kejriwal’s personal staff, Bibhav Kumar, “assaulted” her at the chief minister’s official residence. However, no formal complaint was filed at that time.
A day after the accusations, AAP confirmed the allegations and stated that party chief Arvind Kejriwal has directed stern action to be taken in the matter. Senior AAP leader Sanjay Singh, at a press conference, also said that the incident involving Maliwal was “highly condemnable.”
#WATCH | Senior Delhi Police official leaves from the residence of AAP Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal, after around four hours.
She was assaulted by Bibhav Kumar, former PS of CM Arvind Kejriwal pic.twitter.com/XiT9kUQ0RA
— ANI (@ANI) May 16, 2024
The National Commission for Women (NCW) has summoned Bibhav Kumar to appear before the agency on Friday at 11 AM for a hearing.
Arvind Kejriwal has not commented on the matter, which has caused significant controversy. Kumar is considered a key figure in the Chief Minister’s office.
BJP leaders have targeted the AAP chief over the incident and questioned his silence. On Wednesday, the saffron party staged a protest near Kejriwal’s residence.
The National Commission for Women (NCW) has summoned Bibhav Kumar for questioning regarding an incident involving DCW chief Swati Maliwal, who accused Arvind Kejriwal’s aide of assaulting her at the CM’s residence. Kumar has been ordered to appear before the NCW on May 17.
The NCW has scheduled a hearing on the matter and has demanded the presence of all concerned parties. Should Bibhav Kumar fail to appear for the hearing, the NCW will resort to issuing summons through the police for further action against him.
Initially, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) did not comment on the issue, but they have since pledged to take action against Bibhav Kumar.
