The Delhi High Court has taken up the bail plea of Bibhav Kumar, an aide of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who is accused of assaulting AAP MP Swati Maliwal. On Friday, a notice was issued to the city police by a vacation bench presided over by Justice Amit Sharma, requesting their response and a status report on the case. The court has scheduled the next hearing for July 1.
Kumar, currently in judicial custody since his arrest on May 18, had his initial bail plea denied by a Delhi court on June 7. The court cited the severity of the charges against him and expressed concerns about potential witness influence. According to the FIR filed by Maliwal, Kumar allegedly physically assaulted her at the CM’s residence on May 13, including slapping and kicking her in the stomach and pelvic region.
In response to Maliwal’s complaint, the police registered an FIR under sections 354, 506, 509, and 323 of the IPC, relating to crimes such as assault on a woman with intent to outrage her modesty and criminal intimidation. His first bail application was rejected on May 27 by a sessions court, which emphasized the seriousness of the allegations made by Maliwal.
