Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal refused to answer and passed the microphone when asked about AAP Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal’s assault case in a joint press conference with Akhilesh Yadav in Lucknow. Swati Maliwal was allegedly assaulted by Kejriwal’s personal secretary Bibhav Kumar on Monday. Subsequently, the Samajwadi Party President spoke and remarked that there are more pressing issues in the country than Swati Maliwal.
Earlier on Wednesday night Bibhav Kumar was spotted with the AAP national Convenor and Sanjay Singh at the Lucknow airport, days after the party promised “strict action” against him.
During the press conference, AAP MP Sanjay Singh adopted a defensive stance when questioned about the Swati Maliwal issue. He mentioned that he had already provided the necessary response to the matter and emphasised that there should be no political exploitation of the situation.
In a scathing attack on Arvind Kejriwal, the BJP again accused the Delhi Chief Minister of sheltering the accused in the Swati Maliwal alleged assault incident. BJP National Spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia said, “…today Arvind Kejriwal has no regrets that a woman MP of his party was beaten up and misbehaved with. The accused is roaming around under the protection of Arvind Kejriwal and he was also seen in the headquarters of Samajwadi Party…”
Meanwhile, the National Commission for Women (NCW) has summoned Kejriwal’s personal secretary Bibhav Kumar, who is accused of allegedly assaulting Swati Maliwal at CM’s residence. Taking a suo moto cognizance of the case, the women’s panel asked Kumar to appear before it on May 17, at 11 am.
Delhi’s Additional Commissioner of Police Special Cell and Additional DCP North on Thursday visited Swati Maliwal’s house days after she alleged assault by Kejriwal’s Personal Assistant (PA) and registered a complaint with the police.
On Wednesday, Sanjay Singh met his colleague Swati Maliwal, a day after the party accepted that Kejriwal’s personal assistant Vibhav Kumar “misbehaved” with her. He was accompanied by Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) member Vandana Singh during his meeting with Maliwal, sources said. The meeting took place at Maliwal’s residence, they added. Maliwal is yet to file a formal complaint in the matter.