Swati Maliwal ‘Assault’: Bibhav Kumar's Father Alleges BJP Pressuring Him To Abandon Delhi CM Kejriwal

Delhi Police arrested Bibhav Kumar, aide to CM Kejriwal, for alleged assault on Swati Maliwal. Kumar's father denies wrongdoing, claiming political pressure from BJP.

Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal's aide Bibhav Kumar being taken to custody by Delhi Police after his medical test in the case of alleged assault on AAP MP Swati Maliwal, in New Delhi, Saturday, May 18, 2024.

Source : PTI

Bibhav Kumar, a close aide of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, was arrested by the Delhi Police on Saturday in connection with an alleged assault case. Kumar’s father, Maheshwar Rai, has labelled the arrest as "injustice" and has defended his son’s character, while also alleging political pressures from the BJP. Speaking to news agency ANI, Rai stated, “This is injustice. My son is a simple man. There is a BJP Government in power, it can do whatever it wants. They are telling him to abandon Arvind Kejriwal, then he will not be harmed. He has been with Kejriwal for the last 15 years, but I have never heard any complaint against him.”

#WATCH | Rohtas, Bihar | On the arrest of Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal's aide Bibhav Kumar, his father Maheshwar Rai says, "This is injustice. My son is a simple man...There is BJP Government in power, it can do whatever it wants...They are telling him to abandon Arvind Kejriwal,… pic.twitter.com/Xf3XLm6gaT

— ANI (@ANI) May 18, 2024

Bibhav Kumar Didn't Touch Swati Maliwal Even Once, His Father Says

Rai recounted a conversation with his son, saying, “I spoke with him over the phone, he told me that he was having his breakfast and she (Swati Maliwal) came to do something big. Guards stopped her and he went there. Guards removed her from there. He didn't touch her even once. He only told her that he wouldn't let her meet Kejriwal without asking him. Hearing this, she got angry and threatened him.”

Bibhav Kumar, who hails from Khudru village in Bihar, studied at Banaras Hindu University and practiced journalism in Delhi before his long tenure with Kejriwal. According to ANI, the former head of Khudru village, Lal Sahib Yadav, vouched for Kumar’s integrity, saying, “Bibhav is from a social family. If elections had not been held today, nothing like this would have happened. His family has always stood with the poor. I guarantee that Bibhav Ji is not a person of criminal character. This is going only for politics.”

Kumar, in a bid to clear his name, has emailed the Delhi Police expressing his willingness to cooperate with the investigation into Swati Maliwal’s assault claim, while also urging them to take cognisance of his counter-complaint. In his complaint, he accused Maliwal of unauthorised entry, verbal abuse, and threats, and alleged BJP’s involvement in the matter.

On the other hand, Maliwal’s medico-legal case report, surfaced on Saturday, mentioned bruises on her left leg and right cheek. The report followed a detailed medical examination at AIIMS, Delhi, on the night of May 16. The Delhi Police had earlier filed an FIR based on Maliwal’s complaint, alleging that Kumar had "slapped" her "at least seven to eight times" while she "continued screaming" and "brutally dragged" her, "kicking" her in her "chest, stomach, and pelvis area."