The Supreme Court on Thursday, grilled Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal’s close aide, Bibhav Kumar, accused of assaulting AAP’s MP Swati Maliwal. While hearing the bail plea, the court pulled up Bibhav Kumar. The three judge bench were ‘shocked’ and appalled with the details of the incident and by the fact that a ‘goon’ has entered CM’s residence.
During The Hearing,
Kumar claimed that the allegations levelled against him were false and that there is no need for custody. AM Singhvi, representing Bibhav Kumar, argued that Maliwal filed the FIR three days later. He alleged that Swati Maliwal filed an FIR, “with a friendly and under a friendly LG”, however, Bibhav Kumar’s FIR of the same day wasn’t registered. He also highlighted that Swati Maliwal’s injuries were simple in nature and not dangerous.
However, the court took objection to his submission and said that her calls to 112 indicates otherwise. The bench further remarked, “Is the Chief Minister’s official bungalow a private residence? Is that office required to keep such goons? Is this the way it is? We are shocked. The question is how this happened?”
#SwatiMaliwalAssaultCase | SC Raps Bibhav Kumar
SC made the following observation:
Observation 1- 'Is CM's bungalow a private residence?'
Observation 2- 'Is this kind of goon supposed to work in the CM's residence?"
Observation 3- 'We are shocked. Is this a way to… pic.twitter.com/jwjrFbOXnN
— TIMES NOW (@TimesNow) August 1, 2024
It further stated, that Maliwal had asked the accused- Bibhav Kumar to stop attacking her, yet he continued. The court came down heavily on Kejriwal’s aide for his conduct. It remarked, “What does he think (of himself)? Does he have power in his head? You made it look as if a goon had entered the premises. Does Bibhav Kumar have any shame in doing this? Swati Maliwal is a young woman.”
The bench added, “You were the former secretary, if the victim had no right to stay there, you had no right to stay there. Do you think anyone present in that room would have had the guts to say anything against Bibhav?”
Replying to Singhvi’s contention that it is not a murder case. Justice Kant as reported by Bar and Bench stated, ” You are right we grant bail to murderers and killers. But here look at the FIR. She is crying at the physical condition. Did you have the authority? If this kind of person cannot influence witness then who can? Was anyone there in the drawing room to speak against him you think? He doesn’t seem ashamed.”
The court posted the matter on August 7 to consider the charge sheet filed in this case on July 30. It is also seeking response from Delhi Police on Bibhav Kumar’s bail plea. Furthermore, the court has permitted the petitioner’s lawyers to place the charge sheet on record.