Maliwal row: 'Sick, old' parents to be interrogated, says Kejriwal
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has said that his "old and sick" parents will be interrogated by police on Thursday, in relation to the alleged assault on Aam Aadmi Party MP Swati Maliwal. In a post on X on Wednesday, the CM said, "Tomorrow Delhi Police will come to interrogate my old and sick parents." Maliwal has accused Kejriwal's aide, Bibhav Kumar, of assaulting her at the CM's residence and filed a police complaint against him.
Why does this story matter?
Kumar was arrested on Saturday at Kejriwal's residence, two days after a case was registered against him. The Delhi CM's aide has been booked under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, including 308 (attempt to commit culpable homicide), 341 (wrongful restraint), 354 (B) (assault or use of criminal force to a woman with intent to disrobe), 506 (criminal intimidation), and 509 (word, gesture, or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman).
Slapped, kicked in stomach: Maliwal's complaint
In her complaint on May 16, Maliwal alleged that Kumar "slapped" her "seven to eight times," "brutally dragged" her, and kicked her in the "chest, stomach, and pelvis area." The AAP has, however, refuted the charges, with Delhi Minister Atishi alleging that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) made Maliwal file the first information report (FIR). The party has also claimed that Maliwal tried to meet Kejriwal without a prior appointment and caused a commotion.
'Wife may also be questioned'
Apart from Kejriwal's parents, his wife, Sunita Kejriwal, might also be reportedly questioned by police. In her statement before the magistrate, Maliwal claimed that Kejriwal's wife and parents were present at the time of the alleged assault. "She came out after meeting them. That's why we are asking for two days to take their statement," Delhi Police said, according to ANI.
Kejriwal breaks silence over case
Notably, Kejriwal broke his silence over the case on Wednesday, saying that he wanted a fair investigation because two versions of the incident had emerged. Maliwal slammed him for his first reaction. She accused him of "unleashing the entire army of leaders and volunteers" at her and "assassinating my character." "Irony died a thousand deaths. I don't buy this one bit," she added.
Party leaders pressured to act against me: Maliwal accuses AAP
Separately, the MP also alleged that senior members of her party are being pressured to act against her after she filed the case against Kumar. In an X post, Maliwal said that she received a call from the AAP's "senior leader," who told her that everyone is under pressure to speak "dirty things" against her. "[There's immense pressure]...to break me...leaking my personal photos...whoever supports me will be expelled from the party," she said in her post.
Atishi hits out at PM Modi, BJP
Meanwhile, Delhi Minister Atishi hit out at the police and Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the development. "[PM] Modi has sent Delhi Police to interrogate the elderly parents of...Kejriwal tomorrow. I want to ask PM Modi and BJP that the 85 year old father of...Kejriwal who cannot walk alone without support and the mother...who just returned home...[from] hospital, do they think that 85-year-old patients raised their hands on Swati Maliwal? Does the BJP feel this?" Atishi said.
Kumar brought back from Mumbai
Meanwhile, Delhi Police brought back Kumar from Mumbai on Wednesday. He had been taken to Mumbai on Tuesday for phone data recovery, suspected to have been formatted before his arrest. He remains in five-day police custody in connection with the alleged assault. Authorities allege he formatted his phone after transferring data in Mumbai. His phone, laptop, and CCTV recordings from Kejriwal's house are under forensic examination.
