Who is Swati Maliwal? AAP leader who has alleged Delhi CM’s aide Bibhav of assaulting her | India News

NEW DELHI: Swati Maliwal, a Member of Parliament in the Rajya Sabha representing Delhi, has accused Arvind Kejriwal‘s personal secretary, Bibhav Kumar, of assaulting her inside the Delhi chief minister’s house earlier this week. In the FIR registered against Bibhav Kumar on the basis of the Rajya Sabha MP’s statement on Thursday, the Delhi Police have mentioned that she was hit by him on the stomach, slapped, and kicked.
Delhi Police filed an FIR at the Civil Lines police station on Thursday in connection with the alleged assault. Today, Delhi Police may visit the CM’s house to investigate and record the statements of the policemen and staff present there at the time of the alleged assault, sources have said.
Who is Swati Maliwal?
Swati Maliwal, born on October 15, 1984, is a social activist and politician. She emerged into the public sphere during the 2011 Indian anti-corruption movement led by social activist Anna Hazare. Later, she served as the chairperson of the Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) from 2015 to 2024.
Maliwal was born in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh. She attended Amity International School and received a bachelor’s degree in Information Technology from the JSS Academy of Technical Education.
In 2012, Maliwal married Naveen Jaihind, a politician representing the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). However, the couple divorced in February 2020.
After completing her education, Maliwal joined the Non-governmental organization “Parivartan,” founded by Arvind Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia. She actively participated in grass-roots campaigns across India as a part of the organization.
Maliwal also played a significant role in organizing the India Against Corruption movement in 2011, which led to the passage of the Jan Lokpal Bill.
She was appointed as the chairperson of the Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) in July 2015, becoming one of the youngest to lead the women’s commission. During her tenure, she advocated for various women’s rights issues and the passage of important legislation such as the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015.
Swati Maliwal’s recent accusation against Arvind Kejriwal’s personal secretary has brought her back into the spotlight.
According to sources, Maliwal in her complaint had alleged that while she was waiting in the drawing room at the Chief Minister’s residence, his Private Secretary Bibhav Kumar came and without any provocation, slapped her and also delivered punches to her abdomen.
“I entered the drawing room and was waiting there. Bibhav arrived and began to verbally abuse me. Without any provocation, he repeatedly slapped me… I yelled, pleading for him to stop and let me go, but he persisted in assaulting me while hurling insults in Hindi,” the AAP MP said in the statement recorded by the Delhi Police’s Special Cell.
“He issued threats, saying things like ‘dekh lenge, nipta denge’. He struck me on the chest, face, stomach, and lower part of my body. I informed him that I was menstruating and in considerable pain, begging him to leave me alone. Eventually, I managed to escape and ran out of the room, calling the police for help,” sources quoted Maliwal as saying in the statement.
(With inputs from agencies)