The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) alleged on Saturday that Swati Maliwal lodged the assault FIR against Arvind Kejriwal’s aide Bibhav Kumar under pressure from the ruling BJP. Atishi, a leader of AAP, stated that the former DCW chief was coerced into “conspiring” by exploiting an old Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) case.
Atishi claimed that just like the ED, CBI, anti-corruption bureau, Income tax department, and Economic Offences Wing were used to coerce opposition leaders into joining BJP, a similar tactic was employed in the case of Swati Maliwal. She mentioned that there is an ongoing probe against Swati Maliwal by the Anti-Corruption Bureau, with an FIR already filed, and this was used to manipulate her into hatching the conspiracy.
Atishi further alleged that Swati Maliwal had been communicating with BJP leaders.
“It is imperative to conduct an impartial investigation to determine who was in communication with whom. Swati Maliwal met with various BJP members, and it is crucial to ascertain the nature of their conversations, whether over calls or on WhatsApp,” she added.
In 2016, ACB had pressed charges against Maliwal for allegedly making illicit appointments in the Delhi Commission for Women (DCW), supposedly showing favoritism towards AAP workers.
Swati Mailwal has accused Bibhav Kumar of assaulting her inside Arvind Kejriwal’s living room on Monday. She has lodged a police report against Arvind Kejriwal’s assistant.
Bibhav Kumar has also filed a report against Swati Maliwal, alleging that she verbally abused him with the intention of causing harm.
Meanwhile, BJP leader JP Nadda criticized the AAP for suggesting that his party had sent Swati Maliwal to set up Arvind Kejriwal. He stated that AAP lacks credibility.
“Aam Aadmi Party is a party founded on falsehoods and its credibility is not zero, it is in the negative. Today Arvind Kejriwal has been exposed in front of the people of the country and the people of Delhi, he has been exposed in every way… If this thing has been planned by BJP then why were you moving the mic (during PC in Lucknow) from here to there? Why are you silent? What is stopping you?” he told ANI.
JP Nadda also mentioned that no BJP member was in contact with Swati Maliwal.
As per Maliwal’s FIR, Arvind Kejriwal was present in the residence when the alleged attack occurred. She stated that Bibhav Kumar had hit her 8 times and kicked her in the stomach.
On Friday, the AAP alleged that Swati Maliwal had ulterior motives against Arvind Kejriwal. The party also claimed that she was captured arguing with security personnel and verbally attacking Kumar in a video.
Kumar mentioned that Swati Maliwal wanted to meet Arvind Kejriwal without an appointment and forced her way into his home.