'Willing To Cooperate But...': Bibhav Kumar's Statement To Delhi Police

Bibhav Kumar, the former personal secretary to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, was arrested by Delhi Police on Friday on charges of allegedly assaulting Rajya Sabha MP and Swati Maliwal.

Kumar is slated for a court appearance at Delhi's Tis Hazari Court. Prior to his arrest, Kumar reached out to the Delhi Police via email, expressing his willingness to cooperate in the ongoing investigation into Maliwal's assault claim. He also urged the police to consider his complaint filed against Maliwal, accusing her of unauthorised entry and verbal abuse at the Chief Minister's house on May 13, 2024.

"It has come to my attention through the media that FIR No. 27/2024 has been registered at P.S. Civil Lines, naming me as an accused. Although I have not yet received any official notice regarding this case, I want to state clearly that I am willing to cooperate and join the investigation whenever summoned by the investigating officer," Bibhav wrote in his email to the Delhi Police.

"It is important to emphasize that I have also filed a complaint outlining the true facts of the alleged incident that occurred on May 13, 2024. This complaint was submitted via email on May 17, 2024, at 3:34 p.m., to the email addresses [email protected] and [email protected]. I request that this complaint be recorded and investigated in accordance with the law," the accused in the assault case added in the email.

The case has drawn considerable attention due to the counter-FIRs filed by both parties involved. Swati Maliwal's complaint led to an FIR against Kumar, alleging physical assault during her visit to Kejriwal's residence. According to the FIR, Maliwal claimed Kumar slapped her multiple times and physically assaulted her, resulting in injuries.

Kumar, in his defense, has accused Maliwal of unauthorised entry and verbal abuse, suggesting political motives behind the allegations, specifically implicating the BJP. This complex legal battle has sparked discussions on the nature of political disputes and legal proceedings in Delhi.