Will Delhi police interrogate Kejriwal's parents in Swati Maliwal assault case? Why?

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is embroiled in a fresh controversy after its Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal alleged assault against the Delhi chief minister’s aide Bibhav Kumar.

The police have registered a case and arrested Kumar in connection with it.

In a fresh development, reports have emerged saying Kejriwal’s parents will be interrogated in the case.

Let’s take a look.

Kejriwal’s family to be interrogated

Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday took to his X handle and said, “Tomorrow Delhi police will come to interrogate my old and sick parents.”

In a post on X in Hindi, Kejriwal said, “I am waiting for the police with my parents and wife. Yesterday the police called and asked for time to interrogate my parents. But they have not yet given any information about whether they will come or not.”

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मैं अपने माता-पिता और पत्नी के साथ पुलिस का इंतज़ार कर रहा हूँ। कल पुलिस ने फ़ोन करके मेरे माता-पिता से पूछताछ के लिए टाइम माँगा था। लेकिन वो आएंगे या नहीं - इसकी उन्होंने कोई जानकारी अभी नहीं दी। pic.twitter.com/38Yswozmoi

— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) May 23, 2024

The Delhi police may not visit Arvind Kejriwal’s residence on Thursday to question his parents in connection with Swati Maliwal “assault” case, PTI sources said.

According to the news agency sources, police may visit his residence for questioning in the coming days but are not going there on Thursday.

They may also question Kejriwal in the coming days.

The reason

According to NDTV sources, former head of the Delhi Commission of Women Swati Maliwal claimed that on 13 May, when she visited the AAP leader’s home, his parents and wife Sunita Kejriwal were having breakfast.

Maliwal claimed that after greeting them, she went back to the drawing room, where she alleged that Bibhav Kumar , Kejriwal’s personal assistant, attacked her.

According to the Rajya Sabha MP, Kumar slapped her, kicked her in the chest, stomach and pelvic area.

He also brutally "dragged her and pulled her shirt up."

Maliwal claimed she ran out of the CM’s residence and called the police immediately after the incident.

Kejriwal was present at his residence when the incident took place, she added.

Maliwal broke down several times while giving the statement and sought strict action against Kumar.

The AAP MP on Thursday underwent medical check-up at All India Institute of Medical Sciences.

The AAP accused the BJP of committing atrocities on Kejriwal’s parents through police.

“Ever since Arvind Kejriwal was granted bail, BJP has freaked out. They are attacking and conspiring against Arvind Kejriwal and AAP. But today, after summoning the parents of Arvind Kejriwal for questioning by Delhi Police, they have crossed all the limits,” Atishi Marlena said, as per PTI.

Concurring, AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh said, “The BJP has stooped so low now they are using Delhi Police to commit atrocities on Kejriwal’s ailing and elderly parents. His father is 84, cannot walk without support and even has hearing problems. His mother had returned from hospital two days before his arrest and he could not even meet her at that time. People will respond to this with their votes.”

Kejriwal’s response to the allegations

In his first reaction on the matter, Kejriwal said he expects a fair investigation into the matter and justice should be served.

In an interview with PTI, the chief minister said the matter is currently “sub-judice” and his comment might affect the proceedings.

“But I expect there will be a fair investigation. Justice should be served. There are two versions of the event. Police should investigate both versions fairly and justice should be done," Kejriwal said.

‘Irony died a thousand deaths’

Reacting to his comment, Maliwal said irony died a thousand deaths, adding that Kejriwal has finally said that he wants free and fair investigation in the matter.

“After unleashing the entire army of leaders and volunteers at me, calling me a BJP agent, assassinating my character, leaking edited videos, victim shaming me, roaming around with the accused, letting him re-enter the crime scene and tamper evidences and protesting in favour of the accused, the Chief Minister, in whose drawing room I was beaten up, has finally said that he wants free and fair investigation in the matter. Irony died a thousand deaths. I don’t buy this one bit,” she said in a post on X.

After unleashing the entire army of leaders and volunteers at me, calling me a BJP agent, assassinating my character, leaking edited videos, victim shaming me, roaming around with the accused, letting him re enter the crime scene and tamper evidences and protesting in favour of… https://t.co/ybNwRqGq1K

— Swati Maliwal (@SwatiJaiHind) May 22, 2024

Earlier Wednesday, Maliwal alleged that there is a “lot of pressure” on everyone in the party to malign her.

“Yesterday I got a call from a big leader of the party. They told me how there is a lot of pressure on everyone, they have to say bad things against Swati, they have to break her by leaking her personal photos. It is being said that anyone who supports her will be expelled from the party,” the Rajya Sabha member said in a post on X.

“Someone has got the duty of doing press conference and someone has got the duty of tweeting. It is someone’s duty to call the volunteers sitting in America and get something out against me,” she added.

Bibhav Kumar in custody

Kejriwal’s aide Kumar is currently in five-day police custody in connection with the case.

Kumar was arrested on Saturday and was taken to the CM residence for recreation of the crime scene on Monday.

The police had taken the Digital Video Recorder (DCR) of the CCTV from the residence on Sunday.

On Tuesday, Kumar was taken to Mumbai for the discovery of data from his phone which he had allegedly formatted before his arrest.

Police suspect Kumar formatted his phone after transferring its data to some person or device in Mumbai.

Kumar’s phones and laptop as well as CCTV recordings from Kejriwal’s house have been sent for forensic examination, an officer said. As Kumar’s police custody is ending on Thursday, investigators are trying to collect all evidence related to the case, he said.

With inputs from agencies