Swati Maliwal writes to INDIA bloc leaders, says was 'badly beaten' at Arvind Kejriwal's house
Swati Maliwal and Arvind Kejriwal
Aam Admi Party's Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal on Tuesday wrote an open letter to the leaders of the INDIA bloc, seeking time for a meeting to discuss the alleged assault against her by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's aide Bibhav Kumar.
Maliwal accused Kejriwal's personal aide of assaulting her when she visited the chief minister's residence. She had even filed a first information report (FIR) and Kumar was taken into custody by Delhi Police.
Delhi's Tis Hazari court last week extended Bibhav Kumar's judicial custody till June 22.
The alleged assault occurred on May 13 at AAP supremoArvind Kejriwal's residence.
Kejriwal last month called for a fair investigation and said that there are two versions of the event.
During an interview with news agency PTI, Kejriwal said that the ongoing case is "sub-judice" and commenting on it could affect the proceedings.
The letter, addressed to leaders like Congress party's Rahul Gandhi, Nationalist Congress Party (SP) chief Sharad Pawar, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, was posted on X.
Maliwal said that she was subjected to "victim shaming and character assassination" for speaking up against the abuse.
"Instead of finding support, I was confronted with incessant attacks on my character and victim shaming orchestrated by the leaders and volunteers of my own party," she wrote.
"Over the past one month, I have encountered first-hand pain and isolation a survivor faces when she fights for justice. I would like to seek your time to discuss this pertinent issue," she added.
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"I have worked on the ground for the last 18 years and have heard 1.7 lakh cases in the Women's Commission in 9 years. Without fearing anyone and bowing down to anyone, I have made the Women's Commission stand in a very high position. But it is very sad that first I was beaten badly at the Chief Minister's house, then my character was defamed," she wrote alongside the post.
"Today, I have written a letter to all the big leaders of the INDIA alliance regarding this matter. I have asked for an appointment with everyone," she added.
(With inputs from agencies)