The Delhi Police arrested Bibhav Kumar, an aide and former personal secretary to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, on Saturday in connection with the alleged assault on AAP MP Swati Maliwal.
This arrest followed a complaint by Swait, which led to a case being registered against Kumar two days earlier. In her complaint, Maliwal claimed that Bibhav Kumar slapped her 7-8 times and repeatedly kicked her in the chest and stomach when she visited the chief minister’s residence on May 13.
On Friday, the Delhi Police took Maliwal to Arvind Kejriwal’s residence to recreate the crime scene, and her statement was recorded before a magistrate at the Tis Hazari court.
In response, Bibhav Kumar filed a counter-complaint at the Civil Lines police station, alleging that Maliwal had “forcefully and unauthorisedly” entered the chief minister’s residence. He claimed that the former Delhi Commission for Women chairperson attempted to “create a ruckus and assault” him. Kumar also asserted that the Rajya Sabha MP intended to harm the AAP chief and that he strongly “objected” to her actions.
Congress’s response to Maliwal
The silence of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on the Swati Maliwal assault case has frustrated ally Congress. 
Although bound by coalition ‘maryada,’ there are private calls within Congress for action.
Top Congress sources informed News18 that they have contacted AAP leadership, urging them to take more decisive action to avoid giving BJP leverage, especially with elections in Delhi approaching on May 25. They emphasized the need for AAP to manage the narrative better and avoid appearing biased against Maliwal.
Congress was particularly displeased with AAP leader Atishi’s press conference, feeling it portrayed AAP as undermining Maliwal and being anti-women.
Congress faces a complex situation. As an alliance partner, it must remain silent or mildly vocal, yet as a party previously criticized for not supporting women colleagues, it is uncomfortable with the situation. Recently, Radhika Khera, who left Congress for BJP, accused Congress leadership of ignoring her harassment complaints within the Chhattisgarh Congress. Regarding the Maliwal case, Khera criticized Priyanka Vadra for her perceived duplicity.
Congress spokespersons have been instructed to be cautious and restrained. Priyanka Vadra’s comment, “We always support women and we are waiting to see what the facts are,” has set the tone for the party’s response.
Deepak Babaria, Congress in-charge of Delhi and Haryana, commented, “Senior leader Priyanka-ji has stated clearly that we support the victim in any incident of misbehavior towards women. In the Swati Maliwal case, a complaint has been filed, and it will be investigated. If she has suffered, our sympathies are with her, but this is an internal matter of AAP. We do not wish to interfere in our alliance partner’s internal issues. I do not trust the Delhi Police’s statement, as my experience has shown that agencies like ED, CBI, and Delhi Police are manipulated by BJP. The truth will emerge through the courts.”
Congress feels uneasy about several AAP leaders’ social media attacks on Maliwal and their portrayal of her as a BJP supporter. Although some in Congress are curious about whether Maliwal will join BJP, the party believes it’s unwise to criticize Maliwal publicly just before the elections.
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