The Aryavarth Express
Agency (New Delhi): In the midst of a heated political dispute between the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over the arrest of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s former aide Bibhav Kumar, senior Congress leader Sandeep Dikshit stated that Kumar was arrested “as per a law brought by AAP”.
Speaking to ANI on Sunday, Dikshit remarked that only a thorough investigation would reveal the details of the incident between Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal and Bibhav Kumar at the CM’s Civil Lines residence. “Only a thorough probe will bring out and determine beyond any reasonable doubt as to what exactly happened between Swati Maliwal and Bibhav Kumar. When the ‘Nirbhaya’ incident happened, the AAP hit the streets and raised chorus for a law as per which the victim’s statement in incidents of sexual crime or violence against women would be taken as the truth and the onus will be on the accused to prove his innocence. A legislation to this effect was drafted and brought into force thereafter. However, now, when action follows after a woman alleged that she was wronged, it should be assumed that she was speaking the truth. Bibhav Kumar was arrested as per this law. The legislation was brought by the AAP, and none else. We have flagged concerns over this legislation earlier,” Dikshit stated.
On Saturday, Bibhav Kumar was arrested for the alleged assault on AAP Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal. Responding to the arrest, CM Arvind Kejriwal accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of playing a ‘Jail ka Khel’ (game of putting leaders in jail) with the AAP. Kejriwal announced plans for a ‘Jail Bharo’ march to the BJP’s national headquarters on Sunday, alongside top party leaders and workers.
In a video message, Kejriwal said, “They put me, Manish Sisodia, Satyendra Jain, and Sanjay Singh behind bars. Today, they put my PA in jail. Now they are saying they will put Raghav Chadha, Atishi, and Saurabh Bharadwaj in jail. Perhaps it is our fault that we built schools and mohalla clinics, while also providing electricity free of cost, which the BJP couldn’t accomplish. I would like to tell the Prime Minister: you are playing a ‘jail ka khel’ against us. Tomorrow, I will lead a ‘jail bharo’ march to the BJP headquarters along with all my top leaders, MLAs, and MPs at noon. You can put in jail whoever you want. You might think that you can crush and finish off AAP by putting our leaders in jail. But our ideas resonate with the people and reign supreme in their hearts and minds.”
Following his arrest on Saturday, Bibhav Kumar was produced before Delhi’s Tis Hazari Court, which remanded him in police custody for five days. Kumar had previously emailed Delhi Police, expressing his willingness to cooperate with the ongoing investigation into Maliwal’s assault allegations, while also requesting that his counter-complaint be considered.
In his complaint, Kumar accused Maliwal of gaining ‘unauthorized entry’ into the CM’s Civil Lines residence, verbally abusing him, and threatening him, claiming BJP’s involvement in the matter. Maliwal, in her complaint, alleged that Kumar “slapped” her “at least seven to eight times” while she “continued screaming” and “brutally dragged” her while “kicking” her in her “chest, stomach and pelvis area.”