New Delhi. Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s aide Bibhav Kumar has moved the Delhi High Court seeking regular bail in the case of alleged assault on Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Rajya Sabha member Swati Maliwal. The bail plea is likely to be listed for hearing before the High Court’s vacation bench on June 14. Bibhav Kumar was sent to judicial custody for 14 days on May 31. Bibhav is accused of assaulting Maliwal at the Chief Minister’s official residence on May 13. In the petition filed in the High Court, Bibhav Kumar said that the lower court failed to consider the fact that his further custody is not required, as all the evidence has been collected by the investigating officer and the statements of witnesses have also been recorded.
A trial court in Tis Hazari had refused to grant him bail on June 7, saying he was facing serious and grave charges and there was a possibility that he could influence witnesses. Bibhav Kumar said in his petition, ‘While passing the order of not granting bail, the Additional Sessions Judge failed to consider the fact that all the evidence in relation to the above FIR has been collected by the investigating officer and statements of witnesses have also been recorded, hence the petitioner’s custody is not required. No useful purpose will be served by keeping the petitioner in judicial custody.’
None of Bibhav’s arguments worked… Judge rejects bail plea in Swati Maliwal assault case
The petition was dismissed on May 27
Bibhav Kumar’s first bail plea was rejected by another sessions court on May 27. Bibhav Kumar was arrested on May 18. An FIR was registered against Bibhav on May 16 under various provisions of the Indian Penal Code, including criminal intimidation, assault or use of criminal force to a woman with intent to disrobe, and attempt to commit culpable homicide not amounting to murder.
New section added
Delhi Police has added a new section of the Indian Penal Code for ‘destroying evidence and giving false information’ against Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s close aide Bibhav Kumar in the case of assault on Aam Aadmi Party MP Swati Maliwal. Bibhav is accused of assaulting Maliwal at the Chief Minister’s official residence on May 13. The officer said that Section 201 of the Indian Penal Code (giving false information to destroy evidence of crime or to protect the criminal) has been added in the case.
(Input: PTI)
Tags: CM Arvind Kejriwal, Delhi News, Swati Maliwal
FIRST PUBLISHED : June 12, 2024, 23:44 IST