On Thursday, a two-person Delhi Police team visited Swati Maliwal at her Central Delhi residence to record her statement.
Details of an FIR surfaced on Thursday subsequent to AAP Rajya Sabha member Swati Maliwal’s public disclosure regarding an alleged assault against her. Maliwal informed that she provided her statement to the Delhi Police. The incident allegedly occurred at Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s residence where Maliwal was reportedly “assaulted” by his close aide, Bibhav Kumar. In her complaint, Maliwal stated that she was subjected to slapping, stomach-hitting, and kicking by Bibhav at the Chief Minister’s residence, as reported by news agency ANI.
The FIR has been lodged under various sections of the IPC including 354, 506, 509, and 323, covering offenses such as assault or criminal force on a woman with the intention to outrage her modesty, criminal intimidation, and acts intended to insult and assault. Following her complaint to the Delhi police, Maliwal urged the Bharatiya Janata Party not to politicize the incident.
“What occurred was very distressing for me. I’ve provided my account of the incident to the police and hope that appropriate measures will be taken. These past days have been incredibly challenging. I’m grateful to those who offered their prayers. As for those attempting character assassination or insinuating ulterior motives, I extend my blessings to them as well,” she stated in a post on X in Hindi.
She emphasized the ongoing significance of crucial elections and underscored that while she is not paramount, the nation’s issues are. “I appeal especially to BJP members not to politicize this incident,” she added in the same post. A two-person team from the Delhi Police visited her Central Delhi residence on Thursday to document her statement. According to an official, Maliwal recounted the incident that transpired at the chief minister’s residence on Monday. The official mentioned that with Maliwal’s statement recorded, the police may proceed to register an FIR regarding the matter.
On Thursday, the Delhi BJP Mahila Morcha expressed solidarity with Maliwal, stating that the incident impacts the dignity of women in the country. In a correspondence addressed to Maliwal, Richa Pandey Mishra, the president of the Delhi BJP Mahila Morcha and a former AAP member, encouraged her to engage with the police to ensure that appropriate and stringent measures are taken against those responsible.
On Thursday, Maliwal provided her statement to the police regarding the incident that occurred on Monday morning. Mishra’s letter emphasized the importance of the legal process in preventing such incidents from happening again, praising Maliwal as a resilient female leader whose voice serves as an inspiration to countless women across the nation. The letter reassured the AAP leader of the complete backing of the Delhi BJP Mahila Morcha
“We commend your resilience and courage, and we hope you will soon recover from this ordeal to continue your vital role in advancing women’s rights in the country,” the letter expressed. It conveyed the Mahila Morcha’s concern for Maliwal’s physical and mental well-being, emphasizing its belief in her ability to uphold her determination and become a vocal advocate for women nationwide. Stressing that the incident transcends personal boundaries and impacts the dignity of women across the nation, the letter underscored the Mahila Morcha’s strong condemnation of the “deplorable” incident at Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s residence.
Despite ideological differences, the Mahila Morcha affirmed its solidarity with Maliwal as women. The letter highlighted the alarming nature of the incident, noting the unsettling thought of the safety of ordinary women in the city when such misconduct could occur even in a supposedly secure environment like the chief minister’s residence.
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