Politics

Supreme Court Grants Bail to Arvind Kejriwal’s Aide Bibhav Kumar in Swati Maliwal Assault Case

The Supreme Court, on Monday, granted bail to Bibhav Kumar- close aide of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, in the case relating to the assault of Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal.

While granting bail, the apex court imposed a series of restrictions on Kumar. He is not allowed to resume his duties as the personal secretary to the Chief Minister nor enter into the residence of the latter till the main witnesses depose.

Besides, Kumar cannot issue any public statement regarding the case to be discussed in front of the vulnerable witnesses. The court has asked the trial court to conclude the examination of witnesses in three weeks and forbear Kumar from holding any official position.

On May 18, Delhi police arrested Kumar-who has been variously described as a close aide of Kejriwal-on a complaint filed by Swati Maliwal. She accused Kumar of assaulting her at Kejriwal’s residence on May 13. She said Kumar slapped her a number of times, kicked her and pulled up her shirt without any provocation.

In his defence, Kumar had sent an email complaint to the Delhi Police on May 17 saying that Maliwal had forcibly entered the Chief Minister’s residence, abused him, manhandled him and threatened to implicate him in false cases. Kumar also accused Maliwal of threatening to file a false case when he stopped her from going into the main building of the residence.

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Apart from the CCTV footage at the Chief Minister residence, other evidence includes a mobile phone and a SIM card used by Kumar.On July 30, the court had taken cognisance of the 500-page chargesheet filed by the Delhi Police containing statements of 100 people and naming 50 of them as its witnesses.

Also, Kumar’s judicial custody was further extended till September 13 by the Delhi court on August 24.

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