(Image source from: Hindustantimes.com)
An aide of Arvind Kejriwal was arrested by Delhi Police for allegedly assaulting Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal. Bibhav Kumar, the Delhi Chief Minister's secretary, was accused by Ms Maliwal of assaulting her during her visit to Mr Kejriwal's residence on Monday. Mr Kumar was taken into custody by the police from the chief minister's residence and is currently being interrogated. Although Mr Kumar's lawyer has assured cooperation with the investigation, they have not received any information from the police yet. The incident has sparked a political controversy with the BJP accusing Mr Kejriwal of inaction and shielding his personal secretary despite evidence against him. The incident of an alleged assault between the staff at the Chief Minister's residence and an AAP Rajya Sabha MP has been circulating on social media. The FIR filed by Ms Maliwal accused Mr Kumar of repeatedly kicking her in the chest, stomach, and pelvic area. She pushed him away in self-defense but he continued to attack her and pulled her shirt up. Delhi Police is investigating the incident and will review CCTV footage from the Chief Minister's residence. Mr Kejriwal's home was also visited by investigators to recreate the crime scene after Ms Maliwal filed the FIR.
A report from the Jai Prakash Narayan Apex Trauma Centre at AIIMS, Delhi has revealed that Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MP Swati Maliwal was bruised on her face and leg. This happened after she was allegedly assaulted by Bibhav Kumar, an aide of Arvind Kejriwal, at the Chief Minister's residence on May 13. The test was conducted on Thursday and the report was published the following day. Maliwal sustained injuries to four parts of her body, including her left leg and below the right eye. The AAP MP's medico-legal certificate (MLC) states that she has "bruises over proximal left leg dorsal aspect of approx size 3x2 cm and right cheek elbow below right eye of approx size 2x2 cm". According to her MLC, she was "slapped multiple times" and "hit her head on a sharp object after she was pushed" by Bibhav Kumar. The report also stated that she fell on the floor and was hit multiple times by the accused's legs on her chest, abdomen, and pelvis. The patient is currently complaining of pain over thighs, pelvis, neck stiffness and headache.
The report failed to disclose the injury's specifics. In her Delhi Police complaint against Bibhav Kumar, Maliwal alleged that the Chief Minister's staff member slapped her, struck her with sticks, punched her in the stomach, and physically attacked her. The police filed an FIR against Kumar based on the complaint on Thursday. The former head of the Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) had not made a formal complaint when she first accused Bibhav Kumar of "assault" at the Chief Minister's official residence on Monday. AAP confirmed the charges a day after they were made and announced that Kejriwal had ordered severe action to be taken. On Saturday, a Delhi Police team left Kejriwal's residence after investigating and recording the premises. Maliwal was taken to the scene of the crime earlier on Friday to recreate it, accompanied by a team from the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) and Delhi Police officers. Meanwhile, Bibhav Kumar has lodged a counter-complaint against Maliwal, alleging that she tried to "create a ruckus and assault" him as she "forcefully and unauthorisedly" entered the Delhi Chief Minister's residence.
Due to the ongoing Lok Sabha elections, it is suspected that the BJP may have been involved in the actions mentioned. Therefore, it is suggested that the investigation should also include examining the call records, chats, and interactions between the individual and BJP leaders.
