Kejriwal’s aide Bibhav Kumar moves High Court against arrest in Swati Maliwal assault case

Arvind Kejriwal's aide challenges arrest in assault case, seeks compensation, and action against officials involved in decision-making

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's close aide Bibhav Kumar on May 29 moved the Delhi High Court challenging his arrest in connection with the alleged assault on Aam Aadmi Party(AAP) MP Swati Maliwal at the CM's residence earlier this month.

In his petition, Mr. Kumar sought a direction to declare his arrest as illegal and in gross violation of the provisions of Section 41A of the Code of Criminal Procedure and against the mandate of the law.

He also sought "appropriate compensation" for his "illegal" arrest and initiation of departmental action against the erring officials who were involved in the decision making of his arrest.

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On May 27, Mr. Kumar's bail plea was dismissed by a sessions court here, which said there appeared no "pre-meditation" by Ms. Maliwal in lodging the FIR and that her allegations could not be "swiped away".

Rajya Sabha MP Ms. Maliwal has alleged that Mr. Kumar assaulted her at the Chief Minister's official residence on May 13.

Mr. Kumar was arrested on May 18 and he was sent to police custody for five days the same day by a magisterial court, which observed that his anticipatory bail plea had become infructuous because of his arrest.