Swati Maliwal assault case: Delhi court rejects order on Bibhav Kumar's anticipatory bail plea

Swati Maliwal has alleged that Kumar assaulted her at Kejriwal's residence on May 13 when she had gone to meet the chief minister

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's aide Bibhav Kumar was arrested Saturday in connection with the alleged assault on AAP MP Swati Maliwal, even as the party claimed she was "blackmailed" by the BJP as she faces a corruption case.

His bail application has become infructuous. After the conclusion of arguments, Public Prosecutor informed the court that Bibhav Kumar has been arrested at 4.15 PM.

The anticipatory bail plea of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's aide Bibhav Kumar, accused of assaulting AAP Rajya Sabha member Swati Maliwal, has become infructuous as he has been arrested, a Delhi court observed on Saturday.

Kumar was arrested on Saturday, two days after an FIR was registered against him at the Civil Lines police station.

Additional Sessions Judge Sushil Anuj Tyagi, while dictating the order to the court staff on the anticipatory bail plea, noted that Additional Public Prosecutor Atul Kumar Srivastava appeared through videoconferencing around 4.45 pm and informed the court that Kumar has already been arrested in the case.

"On court query, the additional public prosecutor for the state submitted that the applicant was arrested at about 4:15 pm," the judge said.

The judge noted Srivastava's submissions that Kumar's wife had been duly informed about his arrest.

"Since, the applicant (Kumar) has already been arrested, the present application is disposed of being infructuous," the court said.

"Copy of this order be also sent to the investigating officer or station house officer concerned for information and necessary action," it said.

Earlier in the day, the court had reserved its order on the plea filed before it on Saturday.

Earlier,  the Delhi court on 18 May reserved the order in the anticipatory bail matter of Arvind Kejriwal's aide, Bibhav Kumar. His bail application has become infructuous. After the conclusion of arguments, Public Prosecutor informed the court that Bibhav Kumar has been arrested at 4.15 PM.

"I have argued that there is no case and it is a case for interim bail...I have made a pitch for anticipatory bail because what is seen in the CCTV footage and coverage is not borne by the statement which is belated for a period of three days. The order has been reserved for today, " said senior advocate N Hariharan, arguing for Bibhav Kumar.

Earlier, Bibhav Kumar was arrested on Saturday in connection with the alleged assault on AAP MP Swati Maliwal.

Kumar was picked up from the chief minister's residence by a Delhi Police team around noon, a senior police officer said. He has been taken to the police station for interrogation. He has been taken to the police station for interrogation. Maliwal has alleged that Kumar assaulted her at Kejriwal's residence on May 13 when she had gone to meet the chief minister.

*With Agency Inputs