Delhi Police likely to file chargesheet in Swati Maliwal assault case on Tuesday

The Delhi Police is likely to file the chargesheet in the assault case of Aam Aadmi Party MP Swati Maliwal at a local court on Tuesday.

According to reports, the police have almost concluded the investigation and prepared an over 1,000-page chargesheet.

Maliwal had alleged that she was assaulted by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s personal secretary Bibhav Kumar when she had gone to meet the CM at his residence on May 13.

Based on her complaint, Kumar was arrested, and a case under sections 308 (attempt to commit culpable homicide), 341 (wrongful restraint), 345B (assault or use of criminal force against a woman with the intent to disrobe her), 506 (criminal intimidation) and 509 (insult caused to the modesty of a woman by the use of any words, gestures, or object intending to do the same) was filed against him at the Civil Lines Police Station.

As part of the investigation, police have examined the DVR at Kerjriwal's residence and seized several gadgets, including Kumar's two mobile phones.

Reports said the security staff, who were deployed at the residence of Kejriwal when the alleged incident took place, have been made witnesses in the chargesheet.

The case is being investigated by a special team led by a female Additional DCP-level officer.

The Delhi High Court on Friday denied Kumar bail, with the judge noting that he enjoys "considerable influence". Justice Anoop Kumar Mendiratta observed that it cannot be ruled that witnesses may be influenced or evidence tampered with if he is released on bail.

The case had stirred up a political storm in Delhi with the AAP alleging that Maliwal was part of a BJP conspiracy to discredit the AAP and Chief Minister Kejriwal amid the ongoing general elections.

The Rajya Sabha MP, in her complaint, had alleged that she was "kicked and slapped seven to eight times" by the accused. Maliwal had also claimed that Kumar hit her with "full force again and again" but no one came to her rescue.