The National Commission for Women-NCW has called upon Bibhav Kumar, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s personal secretary, in connection with the alleged assault on Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal. Maliwal purportedly faced the assault at the hands of Kejriwal’s aide on May 13 at the CM’s residence.
In a letter addressed to Kumar, the women’s panel cited a media report titled “DCW chief Swati Maliwal accuses Arvind Kejriwal’s personal secretary of assaulting her,” expressing concern over the incident. The NCW scheduled a hearing for May 17 at 11 am, summoning Kumar to appear in person. The letter warned of potential action should Kumar fail to comply.
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) had acknowledged the assault on Maliwal by Kumar at the CM’s residence on May 14. Furthermore, Kumar was seen at the Lucknow airport with AAP’s national convenor Sanjay Singh, following the party’s pledge of “strict action” against him on the night of Wednesday.
Mayawati Calls on Rajya Sabha Speaker to Address Maliwal Assault
Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) president Mayawati has urged the Rajya Sabha Speaker to intervene in the alleged assault case involving former Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) chief Swati Maliwal and the personal assistant of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.
Expressing concern over the incident, Mayawati emphasised Maliwal’s status as a Rajya Sabha member and highlighted the absence of action in response to the assault, which reportedly occurred at the chief minister’s residence. She took to social media to make her plea, urging the Rajya Sabha Speaker to take note of the situation.
Mayawati underscored the necessity for stringent measures in cases concerning women’s security and safety, emphasizing the importance of consistency across political affiliations. She called for a unified approach devoid of double standards, urging all parties to draw inspiration from the BSP’s leadership.
Former DCW Chief Yet to Publicly Address Allegations
Since news of the alleged assault surfaced, Swati Maliwal, the former head of the DCW, has refrained from making any public statements. Police visited her residence on Minto Road on Tuesday, but Maliwal has not contacted them to file a complaint. The Delhi Police stated they would wait for some time for her complaint, and if none is received, they might initiate contact with her.
The controversy surrounding the assault at Delhi CM’s residence erupted after Maliwal made a PCR call around 10 am on Monday, reporting an incident involving Vibhav Kumar. Following her call, police arrived at the CM’s residence in Civil Lines.
Vibhav Kumar gained attention recently after being dismissed as Delhi CM’s Personal Secretary by the Delhi Vigilance Department over an alleged ‘illegal appointment.’ Additionally, he was summoned by the Enforcement Directorate in February for questioning in the Delhi excise policy case.
