The Tis Hazari court has reserved its judgment on the bail plea filed by Bibhav Kumar, the personal assistant to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who has been arrested in connection with the alleged assault on Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal. The verdict will be delivered at 4 pm.
During the court hearing, Swati Maliwal, who was present, expressed grave concerns about her safety and that of her family if Bibhav Kumar is released. Maliwal stated that since filing the complaint, AAP leaders have accused her of lodging a false FIR and have publicly defended Kumar. She reported receiving threats and described a concerted effort by AAP to discredit her, involving public statements and press conferences. Maliwal mentioned feeling intimidated by the party’s extensive support for Kumar and feared potential harm if he were released.
Maliwal broke down in court when Kumar’s lawyer, referring to the epic Mahabharata, likened the situation to that of Draupadi and the Kauravas. The defence argued that Maliwal had chosen the Chief Minister’s drawing room for the incident because it lacked CCTV surveillance, suggesting premeditation on her part. They claimed Maliwal blamed Kumar for her inability to meet Kejriwal and accused her of fabricating the allegations. The defence also pointed out procedural flaws, including the absence of an immediate medical examination and questioned the plausibility of Kumar assaulting someone in the highly secured environment of the Chief Minister’s residence.
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Delhi Police opposed the bail application, highlighting Kumar’s influential status and his refusal to disclose his mobile phone password, which was subsequently formatted. They argued that Kumar continued working unofficially despite being dismissed, demonstrating his significant influence. The police underscored discrepancies in the incident’s video footage and suggested possible tampering. They also criticized the misuse of the bail application based on Section 41A of the CrPC, emphasizing that women are often reluctant to report sexual harassment in India.
The court was informed about the police’s attempts to retrieve potentially deleted video evidence and their ongoing investigation into Kumar’s activities post-dismissal. The police stressed that granting bail at this juncture could allow Kumar to influence the ongoing investigation.
The judge’s decision on Bibhav Kumar’s bail plea will be announced later today at 4 pm.
