Arvind Kejriwal’s PA misbehaved with Swati Maliwal at CM house, strict action will be taken: AAP’s Sanjay Singh

BJP demanded that Singh’s statement should be the basis for immediate filing of an FIR by police and those guilty should be promptly dealt with

AAP leader Sanjay Singh. Photo: Tribune file

PTI

New Delhi, May 14

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s personal assistant (PA) Bibhav Kumar “misbehaved” with AAP Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal at the CM’s residence, party leader Sanjay Singh said on Tuesday.

Addressing a press conference day after Maliwal alleged that a member of Kejriwal’s personal staff assaulted her, Singh said AAP supremo Kejriwal will take strict action in the matter.

BJP demanded that Singh’s statement should be the basis for immediate filing of an FIR by police and those guilty should be promptly dealt with.

Police, however, said they are still waiting for her to come and file a formal complaint, but added that they have not closed the DD (daily diary) entry as Maliwal had come to the police station on Monday and said she would return to lodge a case.

Calls and messages to Maliwal did not elicit any response.

National Commission for Women chief Rekha Sharma expressed concern over Maliwal’s safety in a post on X. She wondered if Maliwal was under pressure not to lodge a police complaint and urged the AAP leader to “speak up”.

During the press conference on Tuesday, Singh said it is a “highly condemnable incident” and added AAP is in solidarity with her during this hour.

“Yesterday morning, Maliwal had gone to meet Arvind Kejriwal at his residence. While she was waiting to meet him in the drawing room, Bibhav Kumar came and misbehaved with her. This is a highly condemnable incident. Kejriwal has taken cognisance of it and will take strict action in the incident,” he added.

Maliwal was earlier the chief of Delhi Commission For Women (DCW).

“Maliwal has done a lot of work for the country and society. She is a senior party leader. We are with her during this time. The party does not support those (who insult women). The whole incident has been taken seriously by Kejriwal,” he said, adding that she had reported the matter to the police by calling on 112.

Maliwal on Monday went to the Civil Lines police station and alleged that a member of the Delhi CM’s personal staff assaulted her at the CM’s official residence, police officials had said.

Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva said AAP’s silence regarding the incident on Monday reflects the mentality of the party.

“Sanjay Singh’s statement that the party will take action in the matter is quite embarrassing...,” he said.

“Sanjay Singh claims that Arvind Kejriwal was not there at the time, but we knows through sources that this entire incident occurred at the behest of and in front of Arvind Kejriwal,” alleged Sachdeva.

The Delhi BJP president questioned why so much pressure was put on Maliwal and why was she silenced.

He said that the CM’s residence is famous for such incidents, whether it was the incident with the former chief secretary or misbehaviour with Maliwal.

According to a police officer, they can initiate action in the matter if the complainant herself comes to the police station and formally files a complaint or emails it to the police.

Even if the victim puts out a post on social media, the police can take cognisance of it, the officer said.