Bibhav Kumar held; AAP, BJP at loggerheads over Swati Maliwal assault case: All you need to know | India News – Times of India

NEW DELHI: The Delhi Police on Saturday arrested chief minister Arvind Kejriwal‘s former personal secretary Bibhav Kumar in connection with AAP MP Swati Maliwal‘s assault case.
The police apprehended Kumar from the chief minister’s residence a day after Maliwal recorded her statement before a magistrate at the Tis Hazari court. In the FIR, Maliwal has accused Bibhav Kumar of hitting with “full force again and again”.She alleged that Bibhav slapped her 7-8 times and kicked her in the chest and abdomen on May 13 when she had gone to meet the chief minister.
Here are all the latest developments:
Maliwal has injuries on left leg and right cheek: Medical report
According to her medico-legal certificate (MLC) issued by All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) New Delhi, Maliwal has “bruises over proximal left leg dorsal aspect of approx size 3×2 cm and right cheek elbow below right eye of approx size 2×2 cm”
The report also stated that according to the “history provided by the patient” of being allegedly assaulted by Bibhav Kumar at the chief minister’s residence, she was “slapped multiple times”, and “hit her head on a sharp object after she was pushed” by the accused.
This comes after Maliwal filed an FIR against Kumar for assaulting her at CM’s residence on Monday.
AAP shares new CCTV footage
AAP today shared a new CCTV footage that showed Maliwal exiting CM Kejriwal’s residence, escorted by security guards. The footage also captured Maliwal allegedly being engaged in an argument with security personnel outside the premises.
AAP shared the video clip on the microblogging site X, and captioned in Hindi saying, “This video exposes the truth behind Swati Maliwal’s allegations.” The voiceover on the video said, “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?”
‘Why has AAP changed strategy from acceptance to victim shaming?’ BJP
After the Aam Aadmi Party released a set of videos on its ‘X’ account claiming that these clips expose the truth behind Swati Maliwal, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokesperson Shehzad Poonawala questioned why the party has transitioned from “slight acceptance” to “victim shaming”.
“If someone is a victim of rape or assault, if the woman does not cry and her clothes are not ripped off and is walking straight, does that mean that nothing has happened to the woman? What kind of an argument is this? Is this acceptable to talk like this? This is victim blaming and victim shaming,” Poonawala said in a press conference on Saturday.
Poonawala also questioned the reason behind AAP’s change in stance, as earlier, party MP Sanjay Singh had mentioned that the matter would be thoroughly investigated and appropriate action would be taken.
“What led you to take such an U-turn? How can Sanjay Singh know only one side of the story before attending a press conference? Was Sanjay Singh telling the truth and the strategy has been changed from acceptance to disgusting offence,” Poonawala said.
AAP claims Maliwal ‘blackmailed’ by BJP
AAP leader Atishi claimed that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) “blackmailed” Maliwal to participate in a “conspiracy” against the chief minister.
Talking to PTI Videos, Atishi alleged that Maliwal went to the chief minister’s residence on Monday without an appointment.
“Why did she barge in? Why did she land up at the chief minister’s residence without an appointment? Arvind Kejriwal was busy that day and did not meet her. If he had met her that day, the allegations levelled against Bibhav Kumar could have been levelled against him,” Atishi said.
She said Maliwal was made the face of this “conspiracy” by the BJP.
“The BJP has a pattern. First they file cases and then they threaten to send leaders to jail. Swati Maliwal is facing charges in an illegal recruitment case registered by the Anti-Corruption Branch. An FIR has been registered in the case and it is at a stage where she could be arrested.
(With agency inputs)