Delhi government minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Atishi on Saturday alleged that party MP Swati Maliwal, who has accused Arvind Kejriwal’s aide Bibhav Kumar of assault, is facing arrest in an illegal recruitment case and has been “blackmailed” by the BJP to participate in a “conspiracy” against the Chief Minister.
In an interview with PTI-Video, Atishi asserted that Maliwal arrived at the chief minister’s official residence on Monday without an appointment. “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 that day, the allegations leveled against Bibhav Kumar could have been leveled against him,” Atishi said.
Atishi claimed that Maliwal was made the face of a “conspiracy” by the BJP, stating, “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 registered in the case and it is at a stage where she could be arrested. The BJP blackmailed Maliwal and made her the face of this conspiracy.”
Maliwal has alleged that Kumar assaulted her at Kejriwal’s official residence on Monday, slapping and kicking her in the chest and abdomen, charges which the AAP has rejected as “baseless.” The Delhi Police registered an FIR on Thursday in connection with the alleged assault, naming Kumar as an accused.
Atishi demanded that if the Delhi Police is impartial, it should also register 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 register an FIR on Bibhav’s complaint. Will it act on his complaint the same way it did on Maliwal’s complaint?” she asked. Atishi also suggested that Maliwal’s call records should be examined to determine if she was in contact with BJP leaders.
Meanwhile, a new video purportedly from the day of the incident surfaced online, showing a woman security personnel holding Maliwal by her arm while escorting her out of Kejriwal’s residence. As they exit from the main gate, Maliwal is seen freeing her arm from the security personnel’s grip.
As part of the ongoing investigation, the Delhi Police on Friday took Maliwal to Kejriwal’s residence to recreate the crime scene. Her statement was also recorded before a magistrate at the Tis Hazari court.
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