On May 17, Swati Maliwal, a Rajya Sabha MP from the Aam Aadmi Party, recorded her statement before a magistrate at Delhi’s Tis Hazari court regarding an alleged assault by Bibhav Kumar, an aide to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. The Delhi Police had previously registered an FIR in the case, naming Kumar as the accused.
The incident began on May 13 when Maliwal visited the Civil Lines police station in Delhi, alleging that she was assaulted by a member of Kejriwal’s staff at the chief minister’s official residence. In her complaint, Maliwal provided a detailed account of the events, stating that she had gone to the Chief Minister’s house after receiving no response from both Bibhav Kumar and Arvind Kejriwal regarding some official work.
The FIR, filed by Maliwal, elaborates on the mistreatment and assault she allegedly faced at the residence of the Delhi Chief Minister. According to the FIR, the incident occurred on May 13, 2024, around 9 am. Maliwal described her visit to Arvind Kejriwal’s residence at 6 Flagstaff Road, Civil Lines, Delhi. Upon arrival, she entered the camp office and attempted to contact Bibhav Kumar, the Chief Minister’s Personal Secretary, via a phone call, which went unanswered. She then sent a WhatsApp message to his mobile number, but still received no response.
After failing to reach Kumar, Maliwal proceeded to the residential area through the main door of the Chief Minister’s house, as she had done on numerous occasions over the past year. Inside the residence, she informed the staff present of her intention to meet with the Chief Minister. The staff confirmed that Kejriwal was at home and instructed her to wait in the drawing room.
“I entered the drawing-room, took a seat on the sofa, and patiently awaited the arrival of the CM. A staff member informed me that the CM would soon meet me and requested that I remain patient. Unexpectedly, the CM’s PS, Bibhav Kumar, stormed into the room. Without any provocation, he began yelling at me and even started to verbally abuse me. I was taken aback by this sudden mistreatment and responded by urging him to stop talking to me in such a manner and to call the CM,” told Swati.
Elaborating on the assault by Bibhav Kumar, Maliwal stated, “Without any provocation on my part, he started slapping me with all his might. He slapped me 7-8 times at the very least while I continued screaming. I felt numb and shocked, repeatedly screaming for help. To protect myself, I pushed him away with my legs. At that time, he lunged at me, viciously dragged me, and deliberately pulled my shirt up. My shirt buttons came undone, and my shirt flew up. I fell to the floor, hitting my head on the center table.”
Swati mentioned that Kumar pounced on her, relentlessly attacking her by kicking her in the chest, stomach, and pelvic region.
“I was continuously screaming for help, but no one came to my aid. After that, Bibhav Kumar showed no mercy and attacked me by repeatedly kicking me in the chest, stomach, and pelvic area with his legs. I was in excruciating pain and repeatedly pleaded with him to stop. My shirt was coming undone, but he continued to assault me. I repeatedly informed him that I was menstruating and begged him to release me as I was in unbearable pain. However, he attacked me with full force again and again,” Maliwal stated in the FIR.
According to Swati, Kumar also threatened to beat her black and blue and have her buried in the CM’s residence.
“Then, when he realized that I had called the 112 number, he left the room. Bibhav returned with security personnel from the main gate of the CM camp offices. They came and ordered me to leave at Bibhav’s command. I kept telling them that I had been brutally beaten and they should observe my condition, waiting for the PCR police to arrive. However, they insisted that I leave the premises,” Maliwal said in the FIR.
Describing the profound trauma she experienced from the assault, Maliwal said, “I was escorted outside the CM’s residence and sat briefly on the ground outside his house as I was in excruciating pain. The PCR police arrived, but I was completely dazed and left the place on foot, heading towards my previous residence in Civil Lines. I was crying and somehow managed to reach my earlier residence. I sat on the ground there for a while, and some police personnel who had accompanied me from the CM house called an auto on my request. I sat in it and started going towards my house as I was in terrible pain and was traumatized and shattered.”
“Somehow, I found the strength to ask the auto to turn back and went to PS Civil Lines to report the matter. I reached there and sat in the SHO room, where I was crying and informed the SHO about the incident. I was in terrible pain and experiencing severe cramps. I also started receiving numerous calls from the media on my mobile. Due to extreme trauma, pain, and not wanting to politicize the incident, I left the Police Station without filing a written complaint. My head was splitting in pain, and my arms, legs, and abdomen were aching terribly from the assault,” Maliwal stated in the FIR.
Based on the complaint, Bibhav Kumar has been booked under IPC sections 354 (assault by criminal force), 506 (criminal intimidation), 509 (Word gesture or act of intent to insult), 323 (assault), 308 (culpable homicide), 341 (wrongful restraint) and 354B (Assault or use of criminal force to woman with intent to disrobe).
Maliwal was taken to AIIMS Delhi last night for a medical examination. Maliwal underwent a medical test for about three hours at night, in which X-ray and CT scan were done. Her medical report will come today. Swati has suffered internal injuries on her face.
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