‘Highly condemnable’: AAP breaks silence on reports of CM Kejriwal’s PA misbehaving with Swati Maliwal

Admitting that Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s personal assistant Bibhav Kumar misbehaved with Aam Aadmi Party MP Swati Maliwal, party leader Sanjay Singh on Tuesday termed the incident as “highly condemnable” and promised appropriate action in the matter.

So far, Delhi Police informed that it received two PCR calls on Monday by Maliwal alleging that she was manhandled by Kejriwal’s PA. Maliwal, who also visited the Civil Lines police station, is yet to lodge a formal police complaint or issue a statement in the matter.

“A very distressing incident took place yesterday morning. Arvind Kejriwal had called Swati Maliwal for a meeting. She was waiting in the drawing room to meet him when Bibhav Kumar came in and misbehaved with her. After this, Ms Maliwal called the police and told them what happened,” Singh said speaking to the media today.

“This is a condemnable incident. Arvind Kejriwal has taken cognisance and has said the strictest possible action should be taken…,” Singh told reporters, adding that Swati Maliwal has done great work for the people and the country, and is one of the party’s oldest and senior-most leaders.

“We stand with her and will deal with this issue seriously, as per Kejriwal’s order. The AAP does not support such behaviour.”

Maliwal had called the Police Control Room on Monday morning, alleging that she had been attacked by Kumar at the CM House on Kejriwal’s instruction, a daily diary entry shows. The Delhi Police said she then went to the Civil Lines police station but did not file an official complaint.

The incident also caught the attention of the National Commission for Women which sought a report from the Delhi Police Commissioner within three days detailing the action taken in the matter.

The AAP’s admission, meanwhile, has raised questions from the Bharatiya Janata Party demanding Sachdeva’s arrest in the matter. “Till yesterday, AAP leaders kept shut about the incident (the alleged assault on Swati Maliwal). Why were they quiet? A woman is misbehaved with, is assaulted and you are saying you will take cognisance of it. He should have been under arrest by now,” Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva said.

“They are claiming that Arvind Kejriwal wasn’t there when it happened, but we are certain this happened in his presence. Why was this sister pressured to remain quiet? A police FIR should be registered on the basis of her statement and everyone guilty should face action… You are trying to implicate a small fish. Who was behind the provocation? What was the reason? Arvind Kejriwal should step forward and answer,” added Sachdeva.