aap-alleges-bjp-blackmail-in-maliwal-s-assault-claim

AAP leader Atishi on Saturday accused the BJP of blackmailing party MP Swati Maliwal to implicate Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s aide, Bibhav Kumar, in an assault case. 

 

Atishi, who also serves as a cabinet minister in the Delhi government, asserted that Maliwal, under the threat of arrest in an ongoing illegal recruitment case, was driven into participating in a conspiracy against Kejriwal.

 

At a press conference, Atishi questioned the motives behind Maliwal's visit to the Chief Minister’s residence without prior notice.

 

 "Why did she barge inside? 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, the allegations against Bibhav Kumar could have been directed at him," she claimed.

 

She said Maliwal was made the face of this "conspiracy" by the BJP, pointing to a pattern of behaviour she attributes to the opposition party.

 

"The BJP has a pattern. First, they file cases and then threaten to send leaders to jail. Swati Maliwal is facing charges in an illegal recruitment case registered by the Anti-Corruption Branch. An FIR has been lodged, and it is at a stage where she could be arrested. The BJP blackmailed Maliwal and made her the face of this conspiracy," Atishi charged.

 

Swati Maliwal has accused Bibhav Kumar of assaulting her at Kejriwal's residence, alleging that he slapped and kicked her in the chest and abdomen. These charges have been vehemently denied by the party as "baseless." 

 

The Delhi Police registered an FIR on Thursday naming Kumar as an accused.

 

Atishi called for impartiality from the Delhi Police, urging them to also file an FIR based on Kumar's complaint against Maliwal. 

 

"Will the Delhi Police register a case of trespassing, breach of security, and obstructing a government servant from discharging his duty against her? If the Delhi Police is impartial, it should act on Bibhav's complaint with the same diligence as it did on Maliwal's," she said.

 

Atishi also demanded an examination of Maliwal's call records to determine any communication with BJP leaders. 

 

"Her call records should be looked into and analysed to see which BJP leaders she was in touch with," she added.

 

Amid these allegations, another video surfaced online purportedly showing the incident. In the footage, a female security personnel is seen holding Maliwal by the arm while escorting her out of Kejriwal's residence. As they exit through the main gate, Maliwal appears to free her arm from the security personnel's grip.

 

As part of the ongoing investigation, the Delhi Police took Maliwal to Kejriwal’s residence on Friday to recreate the crime scene. Her statement was recorded before a magistrate at the Tis Hazari court.