Assault case: Kejriwal's aide Bibhav Kumar arrested by Delhi Polic; AAP claims Maliwal 'blackmailed' by BJP as she faces corruption case

NEW DELHI: In a significant development linked to the Swati Maliwal assault case, Bibhav Kumar, former personal secretary to Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, has been arrested by Delhi Police.
Kumar was picked up from the chief minister's residence by a Delhi Police team around noon, a senior police officer said, a day after Maliwal recorded her statement before a magistrate at the Tis Hazari court.
A senior police officer said Kumar was arrested from the chief minister's residence. The officer said Kumar had gone there in the morning to meet Kejriwal. "He will be produced before a court and police will seek his custody for further interrogation," the officer said.
Police have already recorded statements of at least 10 people, including security personnel and staff present during the alleged assault.
Maliwal has alleged that Kumar assaulted her at Kejriwal's residence on May 13 when she had gone to meet the chief minister.
Notably, Kumar had filed a complaint against Maliwal earlier, asserting that she unlawfully entered the CM's residence, causing a disturbance and hurling abuses at him.
Meanwhile, Senior AAP leader Atishi accused the BJP of orchestrating a conspiracy against Kejriwal, using Maliwal as a pawn due to her pending legal issues. She underscored the timing of Maliwal's visit to Kejriwal's residence without prior appointment, suggesting political motives behind the incident.
"Why did she barge in? Why did she land up 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 levelled against Bibhav Kumar could have been levelled against him," Atishi said.
Meanwhile, a new video emerged online, purportedly showing Maliwal being escorted out of Kejriwal's residence by security personnel, adding another layer of complexity to the case.
Maliwal's medical examination also revealed injuries consistent with her allegations. . According to the medico-legal certificate (MLC), she has "bruises over proximal left leg dorsal aspect of approx size 3x2 cm and right cheek elbow below right eye of approx size 2x2 cm
The BJP refuted claims of circulating edited videos and accused AAP of tarnishing Maliwal's image. In response, Maliwal criticized her own party for dismissing her assault allegations and succumbing to pressure, accusing them of a U-turn after initially acknowledging Kumar's misconduct.
As the controversy unfolds, questions linger over the veracity of claims and the political implications of this high-profile case.
(With inputs from agencies)