Delhi court denies bail to Arvind Kejriwal’s aide Bibhav Kumar in Swati Maliwal assault case

In a new twist to the high-voltage political drama gripping the Indian capital New Delhi, a court on Monday (May 27) denied the bail plea moved by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's aide Bibhav Kumar in the Swati Maliwal alleged assault case.

Additional Sessions Judge Sushil Anuj Tyagi of Delhi's Tis Hazari court passed the order.

Maliwal breaks down in court, claims threat to life if Bibhav Kumar gets bail

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Earlier, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal broke into tears in the Delhi court after Arvind Kejriwal's aide Bibhav Kumar's lawyer claimed that she intentionally chose the spot at CM's official residence as there was no CCTV there which could record as to what exactly had happened.

Further raising concerns about her safety in the court, she stated that granting bail relief to Kumar would put her and her family's lives in danger.

The Tis Hazari Court in the national capital was hearing a bail plea filed by Kumar who at present is in judicial custody after Maliwal accused him of assaulting her at the CM's residence earlier this month.

He was arrested on May 18 in connection with the case.

The defence counsel questioned the Delhi Police's probe into the matter and alleged that it is Maliwal who should be investigated for going to the CM's residence without an appointment and trespassing on the premises.

Maliwal alleges rape, death threats after AAP’s ‘character assassination’ campaign

This comes after the former Delhi Commission for Women chairperson hit out at the Aam Aadmi Party on Sunday (May 26) stating that she was receiving death and rape threats on social media after the party leaders allegedly orchestrated a "character assassination" campaign against her.

Taking to her official X account, she shared snapshots of DM's filled with abusive comments and said that the situation worsened after YouTuber Dhruv Rathee posted a "one-sided video" against her.

“After the leaders and volunteers of my party, i.e., AAP orchestrated a campaign of character assassination, victim shaming, and fanning of emotions against me, I have been getting rape and death threats. This got further exacerbated when YouTuber @Dhruv_Rathee posted a one-sided video against me,” Maliwal wrote on X.

She then accused the party leadership of making repeated attempts to intimidate her into withdrawing the complaint.

The woman MP further slammed Rathee and said that despite her repeated efforts to get in touch with him to share her side of the story, the YouTuber ignored her calls and messages.

“It is shameful that people like him, who claim to be independent journalists, could act like other AAP spokespersons and victim-shame me to the extent that I am now facing extreme abuses and threats,” she added.

(With inputs from agencies)