New Delhi: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's aide, Bibhav Kumar, has been taken into custody by Delhi Police in connection with an assault case filed by Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal.
Maliwal, in her FIR, alleged that Kumar, the Chief Minister's secretary, assaulted her during her visit to Kejriwal's residence on Monday.
A senior police officer confirmed that Kumar was detained from the Chief Minister's residence around noon and taken to the police station for questioning. Despite efforts to contact the authorities, Kumar's lawyer, Karan Sharma, stated they had not received any information from the police. "We've not received any information from the police yet. We've sent them an e-mail that we will cooperate in the investigation," Sharma told ANI.
The incident has sparked a political controversy, with the BJP criticizing Kejriwal for his silence. BJP spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia accused Kejriwal of being the "main criminal" due to his inaction during the alleged assault. The BJP also accused the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) of protecting Kejriwal's personal secretary despite what they claim is ample evidence against him.
A video purportedly showing the incident at the Delhi Chief Minister's house is circulating on social media. The footage appears to show an altercation between the staff at the CM's residence and the AAP Rajya Sabha MP.
In her FIR, Maliwal accused Kumar of physically assaulting her. "I felt absolutely shocked and was screaming for help over and over again. In order to protect myself, I pushed him away with my legs. At that time, he pounced on me, brutally dragged and deliberately pulled my shirt up," the FIR reads. "Bibhav Kumar did not relent and attacked me by kicking me in my chest, stomach, and pelvis area with his legs."
As part of the investigation, Delhi Police plans to review CCTV footage from the Chief Minister's residence. On Friday, the crime scene was re-created at Kejriwal's home following the filing of the FIR by Maliwal.