Union Minister Piyush Goyal has sharply criticized Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in response to allegations made by AAP MP Swati Maliwal. Maliwal has accused Kejriwal’s personal secretary, Bibhav Kumar, of assaulting her inside the chief minister’s residence.
This controversy has escalated just days before the upcoming polling in the National Capital, scheduled for May 20. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has denied these allegations. “Who is taking them seriously? He came out of jail for a few days for poll campaigning and see what kind of things he is doing,” Piyush Goyal told ANI, responding to Delhi minister Atishi’s dismissal of Maliwal’s allegations as a “conspiracy.”
Earlier, Bibhav Kumar filed a complaint against Maliwal, alleging unauthorized entry, verbal abuse, threats, and potential involvement by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the incident. In his complaint to the SHO of Civil Lines Police Station, Kumar requested legal action against Maliwal and an investigation into her possible connections with BJP leaders, suggesting political motives behind her actions amidst the ongoing Lok Sabha elections.
This complaint follows Maliwal’s allegations that Kumar assaulted her at Kejriwal’s residence. AAP responded by releasing a video purportedly showing Maliwal arguing with security personnel at the residence, contradicting her assault claims. The video was shared by AAP with the caption “Swati Maliwal ka sach (Swati Maliwal’s truth).”
This marks the first time AAP has publicly opposed Maliwal in this matter, despite previous statements from AAP MP Sanjay Singh indicating that Kejriwal had taken the incident seriously and directed “strict action.”
The Delhi Police filed an FIR based on Maliwal’s complaint, in which she claimed that Kumar “slapped” her “at least seven to eight times,” “brutally dragged” her, and “kicked” her in the “chest, stomach, and pelvis area” on May 13 at Kejriwal’s Civil Lines residence.
As the controversy intensified, Maliwal accused her party of protecting a “Gunda” (hitman) and engaging in her “character assassination.” She criticized AAP leaders, particularly Atishi, for terming her visit to Kejriwal’s residence a “conspiracy,” and contrasted her long association with AAP against newer party members.
Delhi’s Tis Hazari court has recorded Maliwal’s statement, and an FIR has been filed against Bibhav Kumar and other individuals under IPC Sections 308 (Attempt to commit culpable homicide), 341 (Punishment for wrongful restraint), 354B (Assault or use of criminal force to woman with intent to disrobe), 506 (Punishment for criminal intimidation), and 509 (Word, gesture, or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman).