Who is Bibhav Kumar, Arvind Kejriwal's aide, arrested in the Swati Maliwal assault case?

Trouble continues for the Aam Aadmi Party.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s aide, Bibhav Kumar, was arrested by the Delhi Police on Saturday (18 May) and reports say that he will be presented at the Tis Hazari Court on the same day.

Kumar is accused of assaulting AAP Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal at the Chief Minister’s official residence on Monday.

The AAP has refuted these allegations, describing Maliwal as a ‘pawn’ in a BJP conspiracy against Kejriwal and accusing her of fabricating the incident.

Earlier in the day, Kumar wrote to the Civil Lines SHO, stating he had not received any notice regarding the FIR against him and expressed his willingness to “cooperate and join the investigation as and when called upon to do so by the investigating officer.”

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Kumar has been charged under Sections 354 (assault or use of criminal force on a woman with intent to disrobe), 506 (criminal intimidation), 509 (word, gesture, or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman), and 323 (voluntarily causing hurt) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

Who is Bibhav Kumar?

• Former video journalist Bibhav Kumar first connected with AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal in the early 2000s while working as a video editor for a magazine launched by members of India Against Corruption, the group that subsequently became the AAP.

• He has remained with Kejriwal ever since, helping him with his everyday tasks and growing to be one of the most reliable people in the Delhi CM’s circle.

• The Print claims that Kumar acted as the CM’s sounding board as well. In addition, he made sure Kejriwal took his medications on time and adhered to his diet because he has diabetes.

• According to reports, Kejriwal had a severe toothache when travelling to Punjab for the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. Kumar was the one who made sure the AAP chief had meals right away so he could take his medication at the time.

• Kumar has gained the moniker “Kejriwal’s Man Friday” because of the important role he plays in Kejriwal’s life with regard to food and medication.

• Recently, he made headlines after he was sacked  from his job as Delhi CM Kejriwal’s personal secretary by the Delhi Vigilance Department, which cited his “illegal appointment.”

• A 2007 case accusing Kumar of “assault and use of criminal force to obstruct a public servant from doing his duty” led to his dismissal.

• He was called before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in February of this year concerning the Delhi excise policy case. The probe agency quizzed him on allegations that he had, among other things, destroyed and concealed evidence in the case.

• Last year, in August, Kumar was again in the news when the Public Works Department (PWD) was ordered by the vigilance department to cancel the allotment of a Type-VI bungalow to Kumar.

With inputs from agencies