The Delhi High Court has rejected the bail plea of Bibhav Kumar, the personal secretary to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, in connection with the alleged assault case involving Rajya Sabha member Swati Maliwal. Justice Anoop Kumar Mendiratta ruled that Kumar’s position of influence could potentially sway witnesses and tamper with evidence.
Kumar had moved the high court asserting the accusations against him were baseless and aimed at tarnishing his reputation. His defense argued that he had no opportunity to tamper with evidence, as all CCTV footage and evidence had been collected by Delhi Police promptly after the incident.
Senior advocate N Hariharan, representing Kumar, emphasized that the alleged assault did not occur and accused Maliwal of filing the FIR out of personal grievance. He argued against Kumar’s custody being treated as a form of pretrial punishment, noting his client’s inability to influence witnesses who are government officials under the purview of Delhi Police.
Opposing the bail plea, senior advocate Sanjay Jain, representing Delhi Police, highlighted Kumar’s significant role within the chief minister’s office, suggesting he could manipulate witnesses and hinder the ongoing investigation. Jain stressed the importance of keeping Kumar in custody, especially as police prepared to file the charge sheet by July 16.
Meanwhile, Maliwal’s lawyer, Nikhil Rohatgi, accused the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) of releasing edited videos to misrepresent the incident and defame his client. Maliwal herself addressed the court, alleging she was subjected to brutal assault and criticized Kejriwal for shielding Kumar. She pleaded for justice and voiced concerns over being victimized and falsely portrayed in the media.
Sources By Agencies
