NEW DELHI, Aug 1: The Supreme Court of India expressed severe concern on Thursday over the conduct of Bibhav Kumar, a political aide to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who is accused of assaulting AAP MP Swati Maliwal earlier this year. The Court’s remarks came as it heard Kumar’s bail plea and scrutinized details of the incident as recorded by the Delhi High Court.
A bench consisting of Justices Surya Kant, Dipankar Datta, and Ujjal Bhuyan questioned Kumar’s conduct, asking if such behavior was acceptable in the Chief Minister’s residence. Kumar, who has been in judicial custody for 75 days, challenged the Delhi High Court’s July 12 decision that denied him bail. He argued that the accusations against him are baseless and that further custody is unnecessary since the investigation is complete.
The Supreme Court has scheduled the next hearing of Kumar’s bail plea for Wednesday and has issued a notice to the Delhi government seeking a response to his appeal.
The bench expressed its shock over the incident, questioning the nature of Kumar’s actions and the impact they had. Justice Surya Kant remarked, “Is CM’s residence a private bungalow? Is this kind of ‘goon’ supposed to work in the CM’s residence?”
Senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi, representing Kumar, noted that the injuries sustained were not severe and highlighted that the FIR was filed three days after the incident on May 13. However, the bench remained concerned about the severity and implications of the assault. They also questioned why Maliwal had to call the police helpline during the incident, emphasizing that the incident’s nature deeply troubled them.
The Delhi High Court had previously denied Kumar bail, citing his significant influence and the potential for witness tampering or evidence manipulation if he were released. Kumar faces charges under multiple sections of the Indian Penal Code, including criminal intimidation, assault with the intent to disrobe, and attempt to commit culpable homicide. He was arrested on May 18 following the FIR registered on May 16.
The Supreme Court’s remarks reflect the gravity with which the judiciary is treating this high-profile case and underscore the ongoing scrutiny of Kumar’s actions and his suitability for bail.
