New Delhi, 17 May 2024: Delhi Police have filed a First Information Report (FIR) based on a complaint by Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal against Bibhav Kumar, the Personal Secretary (PS) to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. The complaint details allegations of severe physical assault, which have been corroborated by Maliwal’s recorded statement under Section 164 of the Code of Criminal Procedure at Tis Hazari Court.
Incident Overview
On May 13, Swati Maliwal visited the Civil Lines residence of Chief Minister Kejriwal. Unable to reach Bibhav Kumar via phone, Maliwal entered the residence, where she was told to wait in the drawing room for the Chief Minister. According to the FIR, Kumar entered the room and began verbally abusing Maliwal without provocation. He then physically assaulted her by slapping her multiple times, dragging her, and kicking her in various parts of her body.
Detailed Allegations
Maliwal’s statement includes the following key points:
- Kumar slapped her “at least seven to eight times” while she screamed for help.
- He dragged her, causing her to fall and hit her head on a table, and continued kicking her in the chest, stomach, and pelvis.
- Despite her cries for help and attempts to protect herself, Kumar persisted in the assault.
- Maliwal was on her period, exacerbating her physical pain during the attack.
- After calling the police, Kumar threatened her further and instructed security personnel to remove her from the premises.
Aftermath
Following the assault, Maliwal managed to reach the Civil Lines police station but did not file a written complaint immediately due to trauma and pain. Three days later, she formally reported the incident, leading to the filing of the FIR under multiple sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC):
- Section 308: Attempt to commit culpable homicide
- Section 341: Punishment for wrongful restraint
- Section 354B: Assault or use of criminal force to woman with intent to disrobe
- Section 506: Punishment for criminal intimidation
- Section 509: Word, gesture, or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman
Current Status
Maliwal recorded her statement at Tis Hazari Court and expressed hope for appropriate action. The National Commission for Women (NCW) summoned Kumar to appear at their office, but he failed to do so by the given deadline. Kumar was last seen accompanying Kejriwal and AAP leader Sanjay Singh at Lucknow airport.
Conclusion
As the Lok Sabha elections approach, with voting scheduled in Delhi on May 25 and in Punjab on June 1, the FIR filed by Swati Maliwal could significantly impact the Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) image. Both Delhi and Punjab have AAP Chief Ministers, and the party is under scrutiny due to this incident. Furthermore, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has recently secured interim bail from the Supreme Court until June 1, 2024. The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is likely to leverage this situation to criticize the opposition during the elections. The unfolding case of Swati Maliwal will play a crucial role in shaping the political landscape and the public perception of AAP in the upcoming elections.