Assault Row: Swati Maliwal Claims Receiving Rape Threats, Alleges Dhruv Rathee's 'One-Sided Video Exacerbated' This

Aam Aadmi Party's (AAP) Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal claimed that she is "getting rape and death threats" after "AAP orchestrated a campaign of character assassination, victim shaming and fanning of emotions" against her.

Notably, the former DCW chief has alleged that AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal's personal secretary Bibhav Kumar brutally beat her at the Delhi Chief Minister residence when she had gone to meet Kejriwal.

While Kumar was arrested by Delhi Police after Maliwal filed a written complaint against him and medical report confirmed bruises on her body, Kejriwal is avoiding commenting on the issue.

In a post on X today (26 May), Maliwal shared some screenshots where some social media users gave her rape threats on X and Instagram and specifically named YouTuber Dhruv Rathee.

Accusing Rathee of posting a one-sided video against her, she claimed that she tried her best to reach out to him to tell him her version but he ignored her calls and messages.

"It is shameful that people like him, who claim to be independent journalists could act like other AAP spokespersons and victim shame me to the extent that I am now facing extreme abuses and threats," she said on Rathee.

Maliwal countered Rathee's 2.5 minute video by citing some "facts" which are: "1. Party took a U-turn on its stand after accepting the incident has happened. 2. ⁠MLC report that reveals injuries due to the assault."

"3. ⁠Selected part of the video was released and then phone of the accused was formatted? 4. ⁠The accused was arrested from the crime scene (CM house). Why was he allowed to enter the place again? For tampering of evidence?" she continued.

Countering allegations of her being a BJP "pawn" (what Delhi Minister Atishi called her). she said, "How a woman who always stood for the right issues, even went to Manipur alone without security could be bought over by the BJP?"

"The manner in which the entire party machinery and it supporters have attempted to vilify and shame me, speaks volumes on their stand on women issues," she said adding that she would be reporting these threats to Delhi Police.