Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal has recounted her ordeal from May 13, alleging that she was assaulted by Bibhav Kumar, the personal aide of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. In an exclusive interview with ANI, Maliwal stated she is not exonerating anyone, highlighting that Kejriwal was present at home during the incident.
Incident details
Maliwal described arriving at the CM's residence at around 9 am, where she was asked to wait in the drawing room. She was informed that Kejriwal would meet her shortly. However, Kumar entered aggressively and, after a brief exchange, allegedly slapped her 7 to 8 times. Maliwal claimed Kumar dragged her, causing her head to hit a center table, and continued to beat her while she screamed for help.
Call for investigation
Maliwal emphasised that she does not know if Kumar acted on his own or under someone's instructions, stating, "Everything is a matter of investigation. I am very cooperative with the Delhi Police. I am not giving anyone the clean chit." She stressed the need to stand by the truth and fight for justice, reflecting on her commitment to support women facing similar situations.
Response from authorities
Following Maliwal's allegations, Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena criticised AAP chief Kejriwal's silence on the matter, suggesting it reflects his stance on women's safety issues. In response, Bibhav Kumar filed a counter-complaint, accusing Maliwal of unauthorised entry and verbal abuse at the CM's residence.
Legal actions
A case was filed against Bibhav Kumar, and a Special Investigation Team (SIT) was formed to investigate Maliwal's complaint. Kumar was arrested by the Delhi Police on May 19 and is currently in police custody.
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