Swati Maliwal assault: Delhi High Court denies bail to Bibhav Kumar

New Delhi, July 12

The Delhi High Court denied bail on Friday to Bibhav Kumar, a close aide of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, in a case concerning the assault of MP Swati Maliwal.

Justice Anoop Kumar Mendiratta dismissed Kumar’s bail plea, saying he enjoys “considerable influence” and no ground was made out to grant him the relief. It cannot be ruled out that witnesses may be influenced or evidence tampered with in case the petitioner is released on bail, said the judge.

Keeping in view the nature of accusations and apprehension of the witnesses being influenced, no grounds are made out for releasing the petitioner on bail at this stage, the judge concluded. “Application is accordingly dismissed,” he said.

The court in its order said the allegation of assault by the MP against Kumar cannot be disbelieved merely on the account of delay in registration of FIR since the events that unfolded after the incident reflect that (Maliwal) was traumatised.

It said (Maliwal) would not have herself made a call on 112 during the course of assault, in case no such incident had occurred. The court also noted that the utterances made by Kumar according to the FIR reflect that “there was a deeper conspiracy” or “motive to be achieved”. It observed that since she was herself a member of the political party, “she had second thoughts to lodge the complaint, considering the power position of (Kumar)”, it read.