Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Friday expressed shock and dismay at Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s silence regarding the alleged assault on Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal.
“It is surprising, in fact shocking that Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal has not spoken a word about his party MP Rajya Sabha Swati Maliwal who was misbehaved with and beaten up in CM’s residence. The CM has not acted, responded or spoken about it, ” FM Nirmala Sitharaman said, ANI reported.
Also Read:Delhi Police books Kejriwal’s aide, Bibhav Kumar, as Swati Maliwal files complaint
Maliwal, who previously headed the Delhi Commission for Women (DCW), allegedly faced assault from Bibhav Kumar, an aide to Kejriwal. The incident has drawn significant attention and criticism from the opposition. Sitharaman slammed Kejriwal also as Kumar was seen accompanying the Delhi CM at the Lucknow airport on Wednesday.
“Today, I am being told that in Uttar Pradesh, he was seen walking around with the accused…It is utterly shameful that a woman who headed the Delhi Commission for Women is treated like this…” she said.
Also Read: Swati Maliwal assault case: NCW summons Kejriwal’s aide Bibhav Kumar on May 17
After three days of silence following an alleged assault at Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s residence, the Delhi Police took action on Thursday. They booked Kejriwal’s aide, Bibhav Kumar, in connection with the incident involving AAP Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal after the former DCW cheif filed a written complaint.
The First Information Report (FIR) against Kumar has been filed under several sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC): Section 354 (assault or use of criminal force on a woman with intent to disrobe), Section 506 (criminal intimidation), Section 509 (word, gesture, or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman), and Section 323 (voluntarily causing hurt).
Maliwal was subsequently taken to AIIMS for a medical examination on Thursday night.
In a social media post, Maliwal expressed her distress on X: “What happened to me was very bad. I have given my statement to the police. I hope appropriate action will be taken. The last few days have been very difficult for me. I thank those who prayed for me. Those who tried to carry out character assassination, who said I was doing it on the instructions of another party, may God keep them happy too.”
“An important election is going on in the country. Swati Maliwal is not important, the issues of the country are important. I specially request those with the BJP not to politicise this incident,” she wrote.
The FIR was registered after a Delhi Police team recorded Maliwal’s statement at her residence. In her complaint, the AAP MP alleged that Bibhav Kumar slapped, kicked, beat her with a stick, and punched her in the stomach.