New Delhi: In a dramatic court appearance in New Delhi, Swati Maliwal, former Chairperson of the Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) and current Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament (MP) from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), became emotional as she detailed the severe harassment and threats she has endured. Her testimony has unveiled disturbing allegations against influential individuals within the Delhi administration.

Maliwal also disclosed that Bibhav Kumar, the Personal Secretary to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, physically assaulted her in the CM's drawing room in the presence of Kejriwal himself. She expressed concerns for her safety and that of her family, emphasizing the privileged position and potential threats posed by Kejriwal's PA, stating that her life and her family's lives would be at serious risk if he were to retaliate.

Legal Defense in the Courtroom

In the courtroom, Bibhav Kumar offered his perspective on the matter. He argued that Maliwal had entered the Chief Minister’s residence without a scheduled appointment or any prior notification. Kumar mentioned that she tried to contact him, but he wasn't in the vicinity at the time. He questioned the validity of her entrance, emphasizing that the place is the official residence of the CM, and even highlighted that a report had been filed regarding the incidents.

Kumar’s legal representative also opposed Maliwal’s claims by asserting that the allegations in the FIR were inaccurate. They argued that the FIR wasn’t based on an immediate complaint and was lodged three days after the supposed event. The defense team brought into question the credibility of the accusations, considering the incident occurred in a place where numerous individuals were present, casting doubt on the likelihood of an assault in such a crowd.

Defense’s Counterclaims

The defense also argued the lack of significant injuries on Maliwal, suggesting they could be self-inflicted. "There is no grievous injury on the vital part, so where is the question of culpable homicide not amounting to murder?" said Kumar's counsel, according to ANI. They emphasized that CCTV footage had been recovered, negating the possibility of tampering, and asserted Kumar’s cooperation with the police from the beginning of the investigation.

Online Harassment and Threats

Maliwal revealed that a prominent YouTuber, Dhruv Rathee, released a video that presented a one-sided narrative about her, resulting in a flood of online abuse and rape threats. "One famous YouTuber made one-sided video & I am getting rape threats. Troll army is harassing me," she stated. The video has seemingly exacerbated the harassment, taking a toll on her mental and emotional well-being.