Sitharaman Criticizes Kejriwal’s Silence on Swati Maliwal Assault Case
In Short
- Sitharaman says treatment meted out to Swati Maliwal shameful
- Attacks Arvind Kejriwal after he was seen with accused in Lucknow
- Maliwal has claimed she was assaulted by Kejriwal’s aide Bibhav Kumar
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has condemned Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s silence regarding the alleged assault on AAP Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal.
Sitharaman described the treatment of Maliwal, who formerly headed the Delhi Commission for Women (DCW), as “shameful.”
In a statement made to the media in Kolkata, Sitharaman expressed her shock at Kejriwal’s lack of response. “It is shocking that Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal has not spoken a word about his party MP Swati Maliwal, who was misbehaved with and beaten up at the CM’s residence.
The CM has not acted, responded, or spoken about it,” she stated.
Sitharaman further criticized Kejriwal after his aide Bibhav Kumar, the alleged assailant, was spotted with the Chief Minister at Lucknow airport on Wednesday.
“I am told that in Uttar Pradesh, he (Kejriwal) was seen walking around with the accused… It is utterly shameful that a woman who headed the Delhi Commission for Women is treated like this,” she added.
FIR Registered Against Bibhav Kumar
On Thursday, the Delhi Police registered an FIR in connection with the case following Maliwal’s police complaint. The FIR was filed after Maliwal’s statement was recorded by a Delhi Police team at her residence.
Maliwal accused Bibhav Kumar of slapping, kicking, beating her with a stick, and punching her in the stomach. These allegations came two days after she reported the assault to the Civil Lines police station, stating that a member of Kejriwal’s personal staff had assaulted her at the Chief Minister’s official residence.
The day after the complaint, AAP MP Sanjay Singh confirmed the allegations in a press conference. He stated that Kumar had “misbehaved” with Maliwal and assured that Kejriwal would take strict action regarding the incident.