AAP MP and former DCW chairperson, Swati Maliwal, has refuted claims that Bibhav Kumar, an aide to CM Kejriwal, assaulted her on May 13. Maliwal asserted that the incident followed her refusal to vacate her Rajya Sabha seat to facilitate the party leadership’s plans to appoint another individual who has significantly aided Kejriwal. Despite pressure, Maliwal remains steadfast in her decision not to resign.
In her first detailed statement since the alleged assault, Swati Maliwal addressed accusations of character assassination and victim-shaming, attributing these to efforts by her party to force her resignation. “If they had politely requested my Rajya Sabha seat, I would have considered it. The way they have treated me, I will not resign no matter what,” Maliwal told ANI. “I am determined to continue my work as the youngest woman Parliamentarian and strive to become an exemplary leader.”
Recounting the events, Maliwal alleged that while she was in the drawing room of the CM’s residence, Bibhav Kumar approached her aggressively. When she informed him she was waiting for the CM, Kumar allegedly began shouting and hurling abuses, calling her a “neech aurat” (vile woman) and slapped her multiple times. Despite her pleas for help, no one intervened, Maliwal claimed.
Describing Kumar as a powerful figure within the party, Maliwal highlighted his significant influence and the fear he instills. “He is not an ordinary PA; his house is more luxurious than any minister’s. There is already an assault case against him,” she noted. Maliwal emphasized that Kumar’s anger could spell the end of anyone’s career in the party.
Maliwal expressed her shock at the lack of support from Sunita Kejriwal and Minister Atishi, accusing them of victim-shaming. Drawing parallels with the Nirbhaya case, Maliwal criticized Atishi for making dismissive remarks about the absence of visible injuries. “This is the worst kind of victim-shaming. I never claimed in my FIR that my clothes were torn or that my head was wounded. I documented exactly what happened. I am willing to take a polygraph test to prove my truth,” she stated.
Feeling isolated by her party, Maliwal has called for a “free and fair investigation” by the Delhi Police. She remains resolute in her decision not to resign, committed to serving as a diligent and exemplary Parliamentarian.