In a major development in the alleged assault case of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal, the Delhi Police on Saturday arrested Bibhav Kumar, the former personal secretary and close aide of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. The arrest came shortly after a Delhi court dismissed Kumar's anticipatory bail plea, with the police now seeking a seven-day custody for further interrogation.
The Arrest and Police Allegations
Bibhav Kumar was arrested from inside the Chief Minister's official residence in Civil Lines on the afternoon of May 18. The Delhi Police informed the Tis Hazari court that his custody was necessary for questioning regarding the reason for the alleged assault and accused him of attempting to destroy evidence at the crime scene. Kumar was later taken to Aruna Asaf Ali Government Hospital for a mandatory medical examination before being produced in court.
The case was registered based on a complaint filed by Swati Maliwal, who alleged that on May 13, when she visited Kejriwal's residence, Bibhav Kumar slapped her 7-8 times and repeatedly kicked her in the chest and stomach. The police have cited her Medico-legal Case (MLC) report, which documented bruises on her left leg and right cheek, as part of their evidence. A day before the arrest, the police had also taken Maliwal to the CM's residence to recreate the crime scene, and her statement was recorded before a magistrate.
Political Slugfest and Counter-Allegations
The arrest has triggered a fierce political battle between the ruling AAP and the opposition BJP. Senior AAP leader and Delhi Minister Atishi launched a scathing attack, alleging that Maliwal was being used as a "pawn" in a conspiracy hatched by the BJP. Atishi claimed that an old Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) case against Maliwal was used as leverage to "blackmail" her into filing the complaint against Kumar to target CM Kejriwal.
In a dramatic turn, Bibhav Kumar had filed a counter-complaint with the Civil Lines police station just a day before his arrest. He alleged that Swati Maliwal had "forcefully and unauthorisedly" entered the CM's residence, created a ruckus, verbally abused him, and even intended to harm Arvind Kejriwal. In an email to the police before his arrest, Kumar stated he was ready to cooperate but demanded that his complaint also be investigated.
The AAP has also released CCTV footage from the CM's residence, claiming it "exposes the truth" behind Maliwal's allegations. The videos show Maliwal being escorted out by security personnel and later arguing with them. AAP leaders Saurabh Bharadwaj and Atishi pointed out that in the footage from May 13, Maliwal did not appear to be in distress or limping, unlike in videos recorded days later after the FIR was filed.
BJP's Offensive and Nationwide Condemnation
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has gone on a full-scale offensive, labeling the AAP an "anti-aurat" (anti-women) party and accusing it of victim-shaming. BJP national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla questioned the AAP's U-turn from initially acknowledging the incident to now calling it a conspiracy. He alleged that Kejriwal was protecting Kumar because the aide held damaging "secrets" about the Chief Minister.
Senior BJP leaders, including Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and party president JP Nadda, have demanded a public apology from Arvind Kejriwal. Nadda recalled that Kejriwal used to stage dharnas (protests) in the Nirbhaya case but now a woman was allegedly assaulted in his own drawing room. Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav stated that the public was watching and would not forgive Kejriwal, while Rajasthan CM Bhajanlal Sharma accused the AAP of drowning in corruption.
The Congress also weighed in, with MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury asserting that no one has the right to misbehave with a woman and demanding a strict probe and the accused's detention. However, the AAP highlighted that Chowdhury's criticism proved their point that the BJP was not alone in targeting them over the issue.
Legal Proceedings and Next Steps
The legal battle intensified in the Tis Hazari court. Bibhav Kumar's counsel, senior advocate N Hariharan, argued that there was no case and that the allegations were not borne out by the CCTV footage. He claimed the police were "distorting facts." However, the court dismissed the anticipatory bail application after the Public Prosecutor informed it that Kumar had already been arrested at 4:15 PM.
With the Delhi Police securing a seven-day custody remand, the investigation is set to enter a crucial phase. The police will likely focus on reconciling the statements of both parties, analyzing all available CCTV footage from the residence, and investigating the allegations of evidence tampering. The case has not only become a major law and order issue but also a significant political flashpoint with potential ramifications for the AAP's image and the ongoing Lok Sabha election atmosphere.
