"I Want Fair Investigation, Justice in Swati Maliwal Assault Case": Arvind Kejriwal
Talking to news agency Press Trust of India, Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal said he wants a fair investigation and justice delivered to in Swati Maliwal assault case as incident has two versions. The chief minister had earlier faced criticism from BJP for not commenting on the issue and intervening in the alleged assault case that involves his personal assistant Bibhav Kumar and Aam Aadmi Party Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal.
Mr Kumar, who was arrested after the Delhi police filed a case against him based on Ms Maliwal”s complaint, was taken to Mumbai recently to probe the charges of formatting his phone. He is in a five-day police custody in relation with the assault case that allegedly happened at the Delhi CM’s residence.
According to Maliwal, the series of events that took place on May 13 when she visited Kejriwal’s residence to meet him. After getting no response from his PA Bibhav Kumar, via calls or text, Maliwal entered the CM’s residence and asked the staff to inform him that she wanted to meet him. In the FIR, Maliwal claims that she was told by the staff members that Kejriwal was present in the house.
She stated that while waiting, Kumar barged in, screaming and verbally abusing her. Maliwal alleged that Kumar proceeded to slap her “7-8 times” while she screamed for help. When she pushed him away with her legs, Kumar allegedly pounced on her, dragging Maliwal and pulling her shirt up. “I was constantly screaming for help, but no one came,” she stated.
Kumar then repeatedly kicked her in the chest, stomach, and pelvis areas, she said in her statement. “I repeatedly told him that I am having my periods and that he should please let go of me as I am in unbearable pain. However, he attacked me with full force again and again,” the FIR recorded.
Following the “unprovoked attack,” Maliwal reported the crime by dialling 112. Kumar allegedly threatened her again, saying, “Kar le tujhe jo karna hai. Tu humara kuch nahi bigaad sakti. Teri haddi pasli tudva denge aur aisi jagah gaadenge, kisi ko pata bhi nahi chalega (Do whatever you want to do. You can’t harm us. We will break your bones and bury you in such a place that no one will even know).”
Following the FIR, the party refuted all allegations and accused Maliwal of collaborating with the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in an attempt to target Kejriwal. The Delhi chief minister is currently out on an interim bail after he was arrested to Delhi liquor scam allegations.
In a press conference held last week in New Delhi, AAP leader Atishi stated that the former Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) chief had arrived at Kejriwal’s residence without an appointment on May 13 to frame the Delhi CM.
Atishi said that because Kejriwal was not available at the time, he was saved. Referring to the 52-second video that has surfaced online where Maliwal can be heard arguing with security officials, Atishi dismissed the allegations raised by Maliwal. The party noted that the video showed “an entirely different reality,” where Maliwal can be seen “comfortably sitting in the drawing room” and “threatening the security staff in a loud voice,” and her “clothes were not torn off.” Atishi also added that nowhere in the video did Maliwal even mention that she had been physically assaulted.
