Piyush Goyal criticises Arvind Kejriwal over Swati Maliwal assault case

Piyush Goyal/ File Photo

Union Minister Piyush Goyal has attacked Arvind Kejriwal over his response to AAP MP Swati Maliwal assault case; Maliwal alleged that Kejriwal's personal secretary, Bibhav Kumar, assaulted her. The situation has erupted into a massive political crisis ahead of the approaching Delhi elections on May 20. AAP has refuted the charges, reported ANI.

"Who is taking them seriously? He came out of Jail for a few days for poll campaigning and see what kind of things he is doing," Piyush Goyal said speaking about Swati Maliwal assault case per ANI.

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Earlier, Delhi Chief Minister Kejriwal's aide, Bibhav Kumar, filed a complaint against Maliwal, alleging unlawful access, verbal abuse, threats, and suspected involvement by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Kumar filed a complaint with the Civil Lines Police Station on Friday, requesting legal action against Maliwal as well as an investigation into her probable ties to BJP leaders, implying that the event was motivated politically, the news agency report stated.

This lawsuit follows Maliwal's allegations that Kumar assaulted her at Kejriwal's apartment.

According to an ANI report, AAP released a videotape of Swati Maliwal assault case from the CM's residence that supposedly shows Maliwal fighting with security staff on the day of the alleged assault. This was the first time the AAP has taken a stance against Maliwal in the Swati Maliwal assault case, contradicting earlier assertions from AAP MP Sanjay Singh that Kejriwal had taken cognisance of the incident and ordered "strict action".

On Thursday, the Delhi Police investigated Maliwal's complaint and filed an FIR. Maliwal said that Kumar "slapped" her "at least seven to eight times" and "brutally dragged" her while "kicking" her in the "chest, stomach, and pelvis area."

According to the Delhi Police FIR, the incident occurred on May 13 when Maliwal went to Kejriwal's apartment in Civil Lines.

As the dispute heated up, Maliwal accused her party of defending a "Gunda" (thug) and engaged in "character assassination." She stated that, while her party initially accepted the assault, they have since taken a "U-turn", the ANI report added.

An FIR has been filed against Bibhav Kumar and others in Swati Maliwal assault case under Sections 308 (Attempt to commit culpable homicide), 341 (Wrongful restraint), 354B (Assault or use of criminal force on a lady with the purpose to disrobe), 506 (Criminal intimidation), and 509 (Infringing a woman's modesty) of the Indian Penal Code.