Delhi CM's Aide Bibhav Kumar in Court for Assault Case; Police Request 7-Day Custody

In a recent development from the national capital, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's aide, Bibhav Kumar, was brought before a magisterial court on charges related to the alleged assault on AAP Rajya Sabha member Swati Maliwal. The incident, which has stirred considerable attention, saw Kumar being arrested by the Delhi Police earlier that day, leading to the dismissal of his anticipatory bail plea by a Delhi court as moot. The case was heard by Metropolitan Magistrate Gaurav Goyal, where the police sought a seven-day custody for Kumar to facilitate further questioning.

The allegations against Kumar stem from an incident on May 13 at the Chief Minister's residence, where he is accused of assaulting Maliwal. The police emphasized the need for Kumar's custody to unravel the motive behind the assault. A significant point of contention in the investigation has been Kumar's mobile phone; he reportedly did not share the password with the authorities and mentioned that the device had been formatted in Mumbai due to technical issues.

Authorities argue that before a phone is formatted, its data must be cloned, necessitating Kumar's presence in Mumbai to retrieve this data. Additionally, expert assistance is required to unlock his mobile phone, further justifying the need for his custody.

Contrarily, Kumar's defense, led by counsel Rajiv Mohan, presented a different narrative. Mohan contended that there was no record of Maliwal's visit to the CM's residence prior to May 13 and questioned the delay in filing the FIR, which was lodged at the Civil Lines police station on May 16. He suggested that Maliwal's visit was unannounced and accused the Delhi Police of misrepresenting facts.

Mohan also highlighted that Maliwal did not seek medical assistance after the alleged incident nor was any medical documentation prepared by the station house officer post her emergency call. He accused Maliwal of politicizing her injuries and making media statements to that effect. Furthermore, Mohan argued that Kumar's mobile phone was irrelevant to the investigation as Maliwal had not alleged any threats over phone or WhatsApp calls.

This case has garnered significant attention due to its high-profile nature and the involvement of prominent political figures. As it unfolds, it promises to be a focal point of public and media scrutiny in the days to come.