The ongoing controversy surrounding the alleged assault on Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal has taken a new turn, with the former Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) chief making startling claims.
In an interview with ANI, Maliwal recalled the incident that took place on May 13, alleging that she was assaulted by Arvind Kejriwal’s aide, Bibhav Kumar, at the Delhi Chief Minister’s residence. Maliwal further claimed that Kejriwal was present at his home during the incident, though “no one was in the room when he (Kumar) hit me.”
Maliwal’s allegations have sparked a political storm, with the AAP leadership rallying in support of Kejriwal. Senior party leaders, including Gopal Rai, Atishi, Sanjay Singh and Saurabh Bharadwaj, were seen arriving at the Chief Minister’s residence earlier in the day, amid reports that Delhi Police will record statements of Kejriwal’s parents in the case.
However, sources have revealed that the officers will not reach Kejriwal’s home on Thursday to record the statements of his parents and wife, stating that the “procedural investigation can also be done at a later stage.”
In a video message, Kejriwal urged the authorities to “not torture his old and sick parents” while accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi of targeting him. The Chief Minister said, “Your fight is with me. Don’t torture my old and sick parents.”
Maliwal, on the other hand, has maintained that she will not resign as an AAP Rajya Sabha MP “no matter what.” She has also demanded a polygraph test to establish the truth and refuted the party’s allegations that she did not make an appointment to meet Kejriwal on May 13.
The former DCW chief has accused the AAP of attempting to “assassinate her character” and “victim shaming” her, alleging that edited videos and claims of missing CCTV footage have been used to discredit her.
Meanwhile, Asha Devi, the mother of the 2012 Delhi gang rape victim Nirbhaya, has extended her support to Maliwal, demanding stringent action against the culprits who allegedly abused and attacked her inside the Chief Minister’s residence.
As the investigation into the case continues, the political drama surrounding the Swati Maliwal-Arvind Kejriwal controversy is expected to intensify in the coming days.
