Delhi Court Denies Bail to Arvind Kejriwal Aide Bibhav Kumar in Swati Maliwal Assault Case - 2024-05-27

Delhi Court Denies Bail to Arvind Kejriwal Aide Bibhav Kumar in Swati Maliwal Assault Case

In a high-profile legal battle, a Delhi court has rejected the bail plea of Bibhav Kumar , a close aide of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal , who is accused of assaulting Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal .

The incident occurred on May 13 when Maliwal , who is also the chairperson of the Delhi Commission for Women, visited Kejriwal 's residence to meet the chief minister. According to the FIR filed by Maliwal , Kumar allegedly hit her in the chest, stomach, and pelvic area with his legs.

Additional Sessions Judge Sushil Anuj Tyagi of the Tis Hazari Courts dismissed Kumar 's bail application, stating that the allegations against him were serious in nature. The judge noted that Maliwal had expressed concerns about her safety and that of her family if Kumar was released on bail.

During the proceedings, Maliwal broke down in tears, claiming that she had been receiving threats since the incident. The Delhi Police also opposed Kumar 's bail plea, arguing that he had been uncooperative during the investigation and had not disclosed the password of his mobile phone, which could be crucial evidence.

Kumar 's counsel, however, argued that the FIR was filed as an "afterthought" and that there was no evidence of any "intention to disrobe" Maliwal . The defense also claimed that Kumar fulfilled the "triple test" for bail, as he was not a flight risk, nor likely to tamper with evidence or influence witnesses.

The National Commission for Women (NCW) has also stepped in, directing the Delhi Police to obtain call records of all relevant individuals, including Chief Minister Kejriwal , to ascertain on whose direction Kumar was summoned to the residence on the day of the incident.

The case has sparked a political controversy, with the AAP accusing the opposition of targeting the party and its leaders. However, Maliwal has maintained that she is not affiliated with any political party and that the assault was a personal attack on her.

The denial of bail to Kumar is a significant development in the case, and the legal battle is likely to continue as the investigation progresses. The outcome of this case will have far-reaching implications, not only for the individuals involved but also for the broader political landscape in Delhi.