Swati Maliwal 'Assault' Case: Delhi Police Arrests Bibhav Kumar, AAP Alleges 'BJP Conspiracy' — Top Points

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's close aide Bibhav Kumar, was arrested by the police today in connection with the assault case filed against him by Swati Maliwal.

AAP Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal (L) accused Bibhav Kumar (R) of assaulting her at Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal's residence. ( Image Source :PTI )

Just as the Aam Aadmi Party was celebrating the temporay return of their chief Arvind Kejriwal from the Tihar jail, the party found itself embroiled in another controversy, which seems far from ending anytime soon.

The row which began earlier this week within the party, sparked with its MP Swati Maliwal's asssault allegations against Delhi Chief Minister's close aide Bibhav Kumar, is escalating rapidly with each development. The latest one being the arrest of Kumar, from the CM's residence, following the FIR filed against him by the Delhi Police on the basis of Maliwal's allegations. 

Here's a round up of all that has happened so far:

• On May 18, former personal secretary and Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal's close aide Bibhav Kumar, was arrested by the Delhi Police in connection with the AAP Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal assault case.
• Kumar's advocate, however, said that they had not reveived any information from the police yet. "We've sent them an e-mail that we will cooperate in the investigation," he said.
• An e-mail which was written by Kumar to the Delhi Police, also surfaced online, earlier today. In the e-mail he can expressed that he was "ready to cooperate in the probe", but the police should consider his complaint against Maliwal as well.

"I am ready to cooperate in the investigation, but police should also consider my complaint against Swati Maliwal," reads an email written by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's aide Bibhav Kumar to police earlier in the day. pic.twitter.com/SGJvjmW5Gf

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) May 18, 2024

• Ahead of Kumar' arrest, AAP had also posted a set of videos on its X account and wrote: “This video exposes the truth behind Swati Maliwal's allegations." 

स्वाति मालीवाल के आरोपों की असलियत उजागर कर रहा है ये वीडियो 👇🏻 pic.twitter.com/dBkH5YhKdD

— AAP (@AamAadmiParty) May 18, 2024

•  The voiceover in the video says that the video was of May 13-- the day she alleged the incident took place. "Swati Maliwal can be seen being taken out by the security staff of CM's residence and neither she is limping nor any head injuries can be seen. Her clothes are also not torn which she claimed in her complaint. In the second video, which is of four days after the incident she can be seen staging a drama and she even started limping after the FIR got registered. A wheelchair is also brought for her. What kind of a game is this?, as heard in the voiceover.
• As per a PTI report, Maliwal had bruises on her left leg, right cheek, and dorsal, as stated in her medico-legal certificate issued by AIIMS.
• Meanwhile, adding to the string of allegations against the Bharatiya Janata Party by the AAP amid the row, Delhi minister Atishi, once again stressed how the whole issue was a "conspiracy" that was orchestrated by the saffron party to frame the Delhi CM.
• Atishi also alleged that Maliwal got involved with the BJP as she feared conviction in the case regarding irregularities in DCW recruitment, filed against her by the Anti-corruption Bureau.
• Lashing out at AAP for these claims, BJP's national president JP Nadda, slammed the party for calling it a "BJP plot," adding that the AAP has lost its credibility and developed a culture for assaulting people at the CM's residence.
• On May 17, Bibhav Kumar, had filed a counter FIR against Maliwal, accusing her of threatening him of implication in a false case. The former CM personal  secretary also accused the Rajya Sabha MP of unauthorised entry and assault at CM's residence. 
• The Delhi Police also visited Delhi CM's residence along with Maliwal to recreate the crime scene as part of its investigation into the alleged assault case.
• In the FIR, filed by Swati on Thursday, three days after the incident, Maliwal said that she was slapped, abused, and kicked repeatedly by Bibhav Kumar. She added that nobody helped her despite her screaming out loud.
• Surprisingly, the AAP had on May 14, confirmed that Swati Maliwal was assaulted at the CM's residence, assuring action against Bibhav Kumar who "misbehaved" with her.
• The confirmation was made by AAP MP Sanjay Singh during a press conference, who also stated that the Delhi CM will take "appropriate action" regarding the matter.
• As the news of the assault broke out, Maliwal's estranged husband Naveen Jaihind also came out in her support saying that an FIR should be lodged in the matter, and even called the CM house a "gutter house".
• Several BJP leaders raised questions on the assault matter, asking the Delhi CM how he would protect the women in the national capital, if such an incident happened at his own residence.
• Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman also slammed the AAP supremo for staying tight-lipped on the matter.