bibhav-kumar-arrested-aap-alleges-bjp-blackmail-tactics-in-corruption-case

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

 

A senior police officer stated that Kumar was picked up from the chief minister's residence by a Delhi Police team a day after Maliwal recorded her statement before a magistrate at the Tis Hazari court.

 

Maliwal alleged that the CM's aide attacked her with full force, slapping her in the face and kicking her in the chest and abdomen on May 13 when she had gone to meet the chief minister.

 

The senior police officer also mentioned that Kumar was arrested on Saturday from the chief minister's residence, stating that he had gone there in the morning to meet Kejriwal.

 

The officer said, "He will be produced before a court, and police will seek his custody for further interrogation."

 

Police have stated that they have taken statements from at least ten individuals, including security personnel and other staff at the chief minister's residence, who were present during the alleged assault on May 13.

 

Earlier in the day, Bibhav Kumar wrote to the police, expressing his willingness to cooperate in their investigation and asking them to consider his complaint against Maliwal.

 

On Friday, Kumar filed a police complaint, alleging that Maliwal breached the security of the CM's residence on May 13 to gain unauthorized entry and create a disturbance there. He also alleged that when he tried to stop her, she hurled abuses at him.

 

Senior AAP leader Atishi addressed a press conference and stated that if the Delhi Police is impartial, it should also register an FIR on Kumar's complaint.

 

In an interview with PTI Videos, Atishi claimed that the former DCW chief faces arrest in an illegal recruitment case and that the BJP "blackmailed" her into joining a "conspiracy" against Kejriwal.

 

Atishi, a Delhi government cabinet minister, alleged that Maliwal went to the chief minister's official residence on Monday without an appointment.

 

"Why did she barge in? Why did she land at the chief minister's residence without an appointment? Arvind Kejriwal was busy that day and did not meet her. If he had met her that day, the allegations against Bibhav Kumar could have been levelled against him," Atishi said.

 

She said Maliwal was made the face of this "conspiracy" by the BJP.

 

"The BJP has a pattern. First they file cases and then threaten to send leaders to jail. Swati Maliwal is facing charges in an illegal recruitment case registered by the Anti-Corruption Branch. An FIR has been registered in the case and it is at a stage where she could be arrested.

 

"The BJP blackmailed Maliwal and made her the face of this conspiracy," the AAP leader charged.

 

Meanwhile, another purported video of Maliwal from the day of the incident surfaced online.

 

In a video, a female security personnel is seen holding Maliwal by her arm while escorting her out of Kejriwal's residence. As they exit the main gate, Maliwal frees her arm from the security personnel's grip.

 

Maliwal's medical examination was conducted at AIIMS on Friday. According to the medico-legal certificate (MLC), she has "bruises over proximal left leg dorsal aspect of approximately 3x2 cm in size and on the right cheek elbow below the right eye of approximately 2x2 cm in size." Meanwhile, the BJP accused AAP leaders of tarnishing Maliwal's image by circulating "edited" videos.

 

Maliwal also criticised her party for dismissing her assault allegations against Bibhav Kumar as baseless. She said that the AAP has given in under "goon's pressure" and is now questioning her character.

 

Maliwal said the AAP made a "U-turn" two days after accepting that Kumar had "misbehaved" with her.