Who is Bibhav Kumar, Arvind Kejriwal’s Assistant Involved in the Swati Maliwal Case?

Bibhav Kumar Arrested for Allegedly Assaulting Swati Maliwal

On May 18, the Delhi Police arrested Bibhav Kumar, the aide and personal assistant of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, for allegedly assaulting AAP MP Swati Maliwal inside the CM’s residence. Kumar has been booked under stringent sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

Accusations and Counter-Complaint

The arrest followed Maliwal’s accusation that Kumar had repeatedly slapped her and kicked her in the stomach and pelvic area five days earlier. In response, Kumar also filed a police complaint against Maliwal, alleging that she had abused him with the intent to assault.

Who is Bibhav Kumar?

Bibhav Kumar is a close aide and manager of Arvind Kejriwal, handling both personal and political matters.

• He started his career at ‘Kabir’, an NGO run by former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia.

• In 2015, Kumar was hired as Kejriwal’s private secretary on a co-terminus basis and was re-engaged in 2020 when the AAP formed the government in Delhi for the second time.

Legal Troubles and Termination

Kumar has faced scrutiny from the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with a money laundering probe linked to the excise policy and alleged irregularities in the Delhi Jal Board.

In April, the Directorate of Vigilance terminated his services as Kejriwal’s PA following a probe into the excise policy case.

Kumar challenged the termination order before the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT), but the CAT refused, stating that granting relief would be “premature”. The charges against Kumar were described as “grave in nature” in the termination order.

AAP’s Defense and BJP’s Accusations

While AAP admitted that Kumar had “misbehaved” with the former DCW chief, they also accused Maliwal of targeting Kejriwal at the BJP’s behest.

Delhi Minister Atishi claimed that the BJP had coerced Maliwal into filing the FIR using an old Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) case as leverage.

The arrest of Bibhav Kumar has intensified the political battle between AAP and BJP, with both parties trading accusations. As the case unfolds, it remains to be seen how these allegations and counter-allegations will impact the political landscape in Delhi.