Delhi HC refuses bail to Bibhav Kumar in Swati Maliwal assault case

Bibhav Kumar denied bail by Delhi HC

The Delhi High Court on July 12 dismissed the bail plea of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's aide Bibhav Kumar in the case pertaining to the alleged assault on AAP Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal.

The HC noted that even though Kumar is an aide to Delhi CM Kejriwal, he wields considerable influence and is capable of influencing witnesses, hence it would not be possible to grant him bail at this point in time.

Kumar, presently in judicial custody, allegedly assaulted Maliwal on May 13 at Kejriwal's official residence. He was arrested on May 18.

The Tis Hazari court had on June 7 refused to grant him bail, saying he was facing "grave and serious" charges and that there was an apprehension that he could influence witnesses.

Kumar's first bail plea was dismissed on May 27 by another sessions court which said there appeared to be no "pre-meditation" by Maliwal in lodging the FIR and that her allegations could not be "swiped away".

An FIR was registered against Kumar on May 16 under various provisions of the Indian Penal Code, including those related to criminal intimidation, assault or criminal force on a woman with the intent to disrobe, and attempt to commit culpable homicide.

A couple of videos from the chief minister’s residence from the day of the incident on May 13 have surfaced on social media. One of them showed Maliwal having an argument with security personnel, while the other showed her walking out of the CM’s residence in the Civil Lines. Maliwal's advocate said that despite the fact that Kumar was in jail, Maliwal was receiving threats.

It is alleged that Kumar, the personal assistant of Kejriwal, assaulted Maliwal at Kejriwal's residence on May 13 morning. Maliwal has claimed Bibhav Kumar had kicked her in the chest, stomach and pelvic area and had brutally "dragged her and pulled her shirt up".

The incident reportedly occurred when she had gone to the chief minister's residence to meet him. At the time of the event, he was present in the house.

The Aam Aadmi Party alleged Maliwal was "blackmailed" by the BJP to become part of a "conspiracy" against Kejriwal as she faces a corruption case and that the BJP wants to send party MP Raghav Chadha and Delhi ministers Atishi and Saurabh Bharadwaj to prison too.