Delhi court dismisses Arvind Kejriwal’s aide Bibhav Kumar’s plea for anticipatory bail
New Delhi: A city court on Saturday dismissed a plea of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s aide Bibhav Kumar seeking anticipatory bail in a case lodged by AAP Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal accusing Kumar of assaulting her on May 13 when she had gone to chief minister’s residence.
The court dismissed Kumar’s plea, calling it “infructuous” after it was informed by the Additional Public Prosecutor that Kumar was arrested while the hearing on the bail plea was underway.
Bibhav Kumar sought protection from arrest
Kumar was picked up by the police in connection with the alleged assault on Maliwal on Saturday and he had moved the court seeking protection from arrest.
Kumar urged the court to grant him anticipatory bail, raising questions on Maliwal’s assault allegations.
What did Bibhav Kumar submit before court?
Senior advocate N Hariharan, who represented Kumar, told the court that the entire incident as alleged was a concocted one and he was not even given a notice before being taken into custody by the police on Saturday.
Hariharan submitted before the court that Maliwal did not have prior appointment to meet the Delhi Chief Minister on May 13 and there was a security breach and a report in this regard was filed by the security personnel.
Hariharan also produced the videos related to the alleged incident, which are in circulation, and disputed the claims of Maliwal. He also raised questions on Maliwal going to the police on May 13 and not registering her complaint on that day and registering the same on May 16 and said that her actions mean she is contemplating and conspiring.
‘Motive and target seem elsewhere’, Bibhav Kumar’s lawyer told court
“The motive and target seem elsewhere,” Hariharan said while saying that Maliwal was made the chairperson of the Delhi Commission of Women and is currently a Rajya Sabha MP from AAP and “Why she is upset with Bibhav, I don’t understand.”
The Delhi Police picked up Kumar on Saturday from the chief minister’s residence, a day after Maliwal recorded her statement before a magistrate at the Tis Hazari court.
What did Maliwal allege?
Maliwal has alleged that Bibhav attacked her with full force and slapped her in the face and kicked her in the chest and abdomen on May 13 when she had gone at the chief minister’s residence to meet Kejriwal.
Bibhav has also filed a complaint with the police against Maliwal, claiming that she trespassed into the premises of the chief minister’s residence, hurled abuses and threatened to implicate him in a false case.