The Delhi High Court on Friday denied the bail request of Bibhav Kumar, an aide to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who faces accusations of assaulting Swati Maliwal, AAP Rajya Sabha member and former DCW chief.
Justice Anoop Kumar Mendiratta’s bench determined that at this juncture, there is a risk that the accused, who serves as the personal secretary to the Delhi CM, could tamper with evidence or influence witnesses. This decision follows an earlier denial of bail by a local court on May 27.
Kumar’s lawyer argued that Maliwal approached the CM’s residence with the intention of discrediting his client. Highlighting a three-day delay in filing the FIR, the defense maintained that Kumar was not at the scene during the alleged incident and that Maliwal did not have an appointment.
Kumar was apprehended on May 18, following the alleged assault on Maliwal on May 13. He was subsequently presented to a local court late at night, which remanded him to five days of police custody. The Delhi Police filed charges against Kumar for the alleged assault at the Chief Minister’s residence.
The FIR lodged at the Civil Lines police station includes charges under several sections of the Indian Penal Code: 308 (attempt to commit culpable homicide), 341 (wrongful restraint), 354(B) (assault or use of criminal force with intent to disrobe a woman), 506 (criminal intimidation), and 509 (word, gesture, or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman).
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