The Delhi Police on Thursday registered an FIR in connection with the alleged assault on AAP MP Swati Maliwal by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's personal assistant Bibhav Kumar. The FIR was registered after Maliwal's statement was recorded by a two-member team, led by Additional Commissioner of Police PS Kushwaha. The police team visited the Rajya Sabha member's residence in Central Delhi and took her statement for nearly four and a half hours. Officials said the FIR has been registered under Indian Penal Code sections pertaining to violence against a woman. The police took Maliwal to Delhi AIIMS for a medical check-up.
According to the sources, the case was registered under IPC Sections 354, 506, 509, 323, 354 and some others. The IPC Section 354 is for assault or criminal force against a woman with intent to outrage her modesty. The sources aware of developments found shocking details of the incident in the FIR.
Sources, citing Maliwal's statement to the police, said that CM Arvind Kejriwal was present in the house when the incident happened.
The FIR reportedly highlights:
- CM Arvind Kejriwal was present in the house when the incident took place
- She went to the drawing room and was waiting there
- Bibhav came and started abusing her
- He slapped without provocation, kept hitting her
- She shouted and said she wanted to leave
- He kept abusing and beating her
- He threatened her -- "We will see, we will settle it"
- Bibhav hit her in the chest, on the face, stomach, the lower part of the body
- Maliwal said she was on her periods and was in a lot of pain
- She came out and called the Delhi Police
Bibhav has been named as an accused in the case, officials said. He has also been summoned by the National Commission for Women (NCW) on Friday over the matter.
The development comes two days after Maliwal went to the Civil Lines police station and alleged that a member of Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener Kejriwal's personal staff "assaulted" her at the CM's official residence.
In a post on X after the police team left her residence, Maliwal said she had recorded her statement with the Delhi Police on what happened to her and urged the BJP to not indulge in politics.
"Hope appropriate action is taken. Whatever happened with me was extremely bad," said the MP.
She also said, "The past days have been very difficult for me. I thank those who prayed. Those who tried to indulge in character assassination said that I was doing it at the behest of the other party, God bless them too."
Also read: Swati Maliwal assault case: FIR registered against Arvind Kejriwal's PA Bibhav Kumar