Delhi HC dismisses bail plea of CM Kejriwal's aide in Swati Maliwal case
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New Delhi: The Delhi High Court denied Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's assistant Bibhav Kumar's bail request on Friday. Kumar is charged with assaulting AAP Rajya Sabha member and former DCW leader Swati Maliwal.
Judge Anoop Kumar Mendiratta's bench stated that the accused, who also happened to be the aide of the CM of Delhi, could not completely rule out the potential of manipulating the evidence or influencing the witnesses at this point.
Earlier on May 27, a court here refused to release CM Kejriwal's aide on bail. Bibhav Kumar’s counsel contended that Maliwal went to the CM’s residence with the intent to malign his aide. Questioning the three-day delay in lodging the FIR, he argued that Bibhav Kumar was not present at the CM’s residence at the time of the incident and Maliwal had no appointment.
Kumar was arrested on May 18 in connection with the assault on Maliwal on May 13 and produced late at night before a local court which sent him to five days of police custody.
Delhi Police registered a case against Kumar after he allegedly assaulted Maliwal at the Chief Minister's residence.
The FIR at the Civil Lines police station includes charges under Sections 308 (attempt to commit culpable homicide), 341 (wrongful restraint), 354(B) (assault or use of criminal force to woman with intent to disrobe), 506 (criminal intimidation), and 509 (word, gesture, or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman) of the Indian Penal Code.
With inputs from IANS