Aam Aadmi Party Rajya Sabha member Swati Maliwal has alleged that she was "slapped" and "kicked" by Arvind Kejriwal's personal assistant Bibhav Kumar inside the Delhi chief minister's residence, as reported in the FIR filed in the case.

The Delhi Police has filed an FIR against Kumar following a formal complaint by Swati Maliwal. In her complaint, Maliwal recounted, "I tried calling Bibhav and Kejriwal both but I got no response. I went into the house of Kejriwal. I was told Kejriwal was inside the house and I was told to wait. Staff told me he was coming to meet me. Suddenly Bibhav came into the room. He started screaming and abusing me. Bibhav said, 'tu kaise hamari baat nahi manegi'... Then he came close to me and slapped me 7-8 times."

She claimed that she attempted to defend herself, but Kumar attacked her and forcefully dragged her while pulling up her shirt. "My shirt buttons opened and my shirt flew up; he hit my head on the centre table. Then he kicked me on my chest, stomach, and pelvis area. I told him I was having my periods, but he continued to assault me," Swati recounted. She added that she is struggling to walk after the assault and is experiencing pain in her abdomen.

Three days after the incident, the Delhi Police visited Swati's residence to record her statement regarding the alleged assault. A two-member police team recorded her statement in connection with the incident.

The FIR has been filed under sections 354, 506, 509, and 323 of the IPC, along with other sections, covering offences such as assault or criminal force on a woman with intent to outrage her modesty, criminal intimidation, and acts intended to insult and assault. After filing the complaint with the Delhi police, Maliwal urged the BJP not to politicise the incident.

Describing the incident as "very bad," the former Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) chief confirmed that she had provided her statement to the police regarding the matter.

"I experienced something very unpleasant. I have cooperated with the police and provided them with my statement regarding the incident. I trust that appropriate action will be taken. These past few days have been extremely challenging for me. I extend my gratitude to those who offered their prayers and support. To those who attempted character assassination and speculated that I acted on behalf of another party, I wish them well," the AAP leader stated.

"Amidst ongoing elections in the country, the focus should be on national issues rather than on me, Swati Maliwal. I urge members of the BJP not to politicise this incident," she added.

Meanwhile, the National Commission for Women (NCW) has summoned Kejriwal's aide Bibhav Kumar in response to Maliwal's allegations. Senior AAP leader Sanjay Singh had denounced the incident involving Maliwal as "highly condemnable" a day after it occurred.

Image source: Times of India