"Brutal Assault, Could Have Been Fatal": Delhi Police As Arvind Kejriwal's Aide Sent To Five Days Custody In Swati Maliwal Case

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's personal secretary Bibhav Kumar was sent to five days of custody after the Delhi Police argued that the assault on Swati Maliwal could have been "fatal".

Aam Aadmi Party's (AAP) Rajya Sabha MP Maliwal had alleged that Kumar slapped her seven to eight times and kicked her in the pelvic area at CM's residence. The medical report confirmed bruises.

Soon Kumar was arrested by the Delhi Police and in a late-night hearing yesterday (18 May), he was sent to five days of police custody. Earlier, his plea for interim protection was rejected by Delhi's Tis Hazari court.

"This is a very serious case where a Member of Parliament, a public figure, has been brutally assaulted which could have been fatal," remand application of Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police, North Delhi said.

"Despite specific questions, the accused has not cooperated in the investigation and has been evasive in his replies," the application added while Kumar had sent e-mail to police assuring cooperation before arrest.

The police sought custodial interrogation to discover the motive behind the attack and find "conspiracy angles". It alleged that the accused did not share his phone password and that the phone was formatted.

Kumar will be taken to Mumbai, where the phone was formatted, during the custody period. He was not released due to apprehensions of evidence tampering and threatening witnesses from "position of command.

"The accused is an influential person and having worked more than nine years in an authoritative position can influence, and pressure the witnesses in the CM house," police said as Kumar is with Kejriwal since 2015.