Three days after she accused Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s close aide Bibhav Kumar of assault, AAP MP Swati Maliwal has finally lodged a complaint with Delhi Police.
Details of Maliwal’s assault surfaced after the police recorded her statement on Thursday following which an FIR was registered against Kejriwal’s former personal assistant Bibhav Kumar.
Maliwal was allegedly “attacked” by Kumar on Monday (May 13) at Kejriwal’s residence in Civil Lines, the Delhi Police said after they received a PCR call from a woman describing her ordeal. However, no formal complaint was lodged on that day and the following three days.
Hours after recording her statement to the police, Maliwal broke silence on her assault on X, saying, “What happened to me was very bad. I have given my statement to the police on the incident that happened to me. I hope that appropriate action will be taken. The last few days have been very difficult for me. I thank those who prayed for me,” adding that the issue should not be politicised at a time when elections are going on.
What does the FIR reveal?
As per the First Information Report, Kumar physically assaulted Maliwal by slapping her multiple times, hitting her in the stomach and kicking her.
The incident occurred when Maliwal went to the chief minister’s residence to meet Kejriwal after he was released from Tihar Jail last week. She was waiting for Kejriwal in the living room when Bibhav Kumar barged in and began assaulting her.
According to a PTI report, Maliwal also claimed that the chief minister was present at the house when the incident took place.
Kumar has been booked under sections 354, 506, 509, and 323 of the IPC pertaining to crimes like assault and violence against a woman with intent to outrage her modesty and criminal intimidation.
Maliwal’s statement was recorded by a two-member team led by Additional Commissioner of Police (ACP) P S Kushwaha at 1:50 pm on Thursday.
Maliwal goes to AIIMS for checkup
The Rajya Sabha MP went to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Delhi to undergo a medical checkup three days after being physically attacked.
According to media reports, Maliwal reached AIIMS at 11 pm on Thursday and left the hospital around 3 am.
The checkup found internal injuries and marks on Maliwal’s face.
Police reached Kumar’s home
Following Maliwal’s official complaint on the matter, the Delhi Police reportedly went to Bibhav Kumar’s residence in Delhi only to not find him at home.
The police said only Kumar’s wife was present in the house.
It may be noted that Kumar was spotted with Kejriwal in Lucknow on Wednesday night as the chief minister visited Uttar Pradesh to hold a joint press conference with SP’s Akhilesh Yadav.
Meanwhile, Kumar is supposed to appear before the National Commission for Women (NCW) for a hearing on Friday.
Delhi police likely to reach CM’s residence
Delhi Police may visit the Chief Minister’s house on Friday to investigate and record the statements of the policemen and staff present there at the time of the alleged assault on Maliwal.
Maliwal’s mother reacts
After Maliwal spoke out on her assault, her mother, Sangita Maliwal expressed concerns over her daughter’s condition.
“We are not in a state to talk… It’s her fight, and only she will speak when the time is right,” she told Republic TV.
AAP likely to form internal probe
After keeping mum for over a day and with Kejriwal appearing to be evading questions on Maliwal, the Aam Aadmi Party is likely to form an internal committee to probe the matter.
According to India Today, AAP has also asked Maliwal to record her statement in connection to the matter.
AAP leader Sanjay Singh, who gave the opening statement about the case on Tuesday, has reportedly been asked to mediate the matter.
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