New Delhi: AAP supremo, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has broken his silence on the Swati Maliwal assault controversy, expressing his desire for a thorough investigation into the incident, which has been embroiled in conflicting narratives.
 Speaking in an interview with the news agency PTI, Kejriwal addressed the issue for the first time since it erupted on May 13, sparking a significant political upheaval in Delhi.
The controversy unfolded when AAP Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal accused Kejriwal’s aide, Bibhav Kumar, of assaulting her inside the chief minister’s residence on May 13. Kumar has been apprehended by authorities, yet the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has staunchly defended him, branding Maliwal as a BJP pawn.
While Delhi minister Atishi, Saurabh Bharadwaj, and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh have previously conveyed the party’s stance on the matter, Kejriwal had remained silent regarding the incident involving one of AAP’s longstanding members. However, during his interview with PTI on Wednesday, Kejriwal stated the ongoing legal proceedings and refrained from making comments that could influence them, yet he highlighted the importance of a fair investigation.
Acknowledging that he was not present at the scene of the alleged assault, Kejriwal distanced himself from the incident. Meanwhile, Bibhav Kumar is currently under five-day police custody, with investigations extending to Mumbai where his phone’s whereabouts were traced. There are suspicions that Kumar tampered with his phone while there.
In a startling revelation, Maliwal accused the party of pressuring individuals to leak her personal photos, implying a concerted effort to discredit her. In a social media post, she recounted being warned by a prominent party figure about the pressure to tarnish her reputation, even suggesting expulsion for those who support her.
