Swati Maliwal Assault Case: Judicial Custody Of Kejriwal's Aide Extended Till 16 July

A Delhi court on Saturday (6 July) extended the judicial custody of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's close aide Bibhav Kumar until 16 July.

Bibhav Kumar is accused of assaulting Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal on 13 May at the Chief Minister's official residence.

He was produced through video conferencing before Metropolitan Magistrate Gaurav Goyal who extended his judicial custody, NDTV reported.

Bibhav Kumar was arrested on 18 May and was sent to police custody for five days the same day by a magisterial court, which observed that his anticipatory bail plea had become infructuous because of his arrest.

On 24 May, he was sent to four days judicial custody, following which he was again remanded in police custody for three days.

The FIR against Bibhav Kumar was registered on 16 May under various Indian Penal Code provisions, including those related to criminal intimidation, assault or criminal force on a woman with the intent to disrobe and attempt to commit culpable homicide.

Maliwal's accusations against Kejriwal's personal assistant Bibhav Kumar had caused a political uproar.

Maliwal, who is a Rajya Sabha MP, had alleged that Kumar kicked her in the chest, stomach, and pelvic area before "brutally dragging" her at the chief minister's residence on 13 May.

Kejriwal, who initially remained silent on the matter, later called for a fair investigation into the incident, noting that there are two versions of the event.

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