Delhi Court Denies Bail To Bibhav Kumar In Swati Maliwal Assault Case

New Delhi: A Delhi magisterial court on Monday dismissed the bail plea of Bibhav Kumar, a close aide to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, in connection with the assault on Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MP Swati Maliwal.

The incident allegedly occurred at the Chief Minister’s residence on May 13, leading to Kumar’s judicial custody on May 24.

Kumar faces accusations of screaming, threatening, and using abusive language against Maliwal, alongside claims of “brutally assaulting” her, dragging her, and banging her head on a table. Maliwal, who was waiting to meet Kejriwal at his official residence, has provided a detailed account of the assault.

Kumar’s defence argues the allegations are premeditated and intended to malign him. His lawyer claims Maliwal targeted him out of frustration for not being able to meet the Chief Minister, choosing a location without CCTV coverage. During the hearing, Maliwal emotionally countered these claims, accusing the AAP of deploying a troll army and conducting press conferences against her.

The Delhi Police, highlighting the severity of the case, described the assault as potentially fatal. They also noted Kumar’s lack of cooperation during the investigation. The police took Kumar to Mumbai to retrieve data from his formatted phone, suspecting he transferred data before his arrest. His electronic devices and CCTV footage from Kejriwal’s residence are under forensic examination.

The National Commission for Women (NCW) has called for an investigation into the call records of all involved, including Kejriwal, questioning the circumstances of Kumar’s presence at the residence.

The AAP has dismissed Maliwal’s allegations, suggesting she is being used by the BJP to defame Kejriwal during the election season.