Aam Aadmi Paty has landed in another row, within days of its national convenor and Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal came out of jail on bail. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Tuesday accepted party’s Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal’s claims that she was assaulted by the Personal Secretary of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.
The incident, which took place on Monday morning at the Chief Minister’s residence, came to light after Maliwal went to the Civil Lines police station and said that Arvind Kejriwal’s personal staff misbehaved with her. Maliwal also made PCR calls after the said assault. Responding to this, the party stated that Arvind Kejriwal will take strict action against PS Bibhav Kumar.
The Aam Aadmi Party is now attempting to downplay the assault case involving Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal at the Chief Minister’s residence.
Sanjay Singh said that action would be taken, but it is not very easy. The primary concern raised was whether Swati faced assault or misconduct at Chief Minister Kejriwal’s residence while he was present.
This incident happened at a critical juncture, coinciding with Kejriwal’s temporary release from interim bail. He is actively engaged in public rallies to assert his innocence regarding corruption allegations. The timing of this incident raises questions, particularly during an election period, regarding why such an event transpired, especially involving one of his closest associates, Swati. With various events unfolding simultaneously, the situation becomes increasingly complex.
It’s widely acknowledged that Chief Minister Kejriwal’s most trusted confidants are Swati Maliwal and Raghav Chadha, particularly when it comes to financial matters. Both leaders have rapidly ascended within the party’s ranks compared to others. Raghav played a pivotal role in the Punjab elections, while Swati swiftly entered the Rajya Sabha as the chairperson of the Women’s Commission.
However, as legal pressure mounted on Kejriwal, both Raghav and Swati seemingly disappeared from the scene. Their absence was conspicuous, especially during a period when prominent party figures like Kejriwal and Sanjay Singh were also in custody.
A few days following Kejriwal’s release from jail, Swati abruptly emerged in the headlines. Reports surfaced last Monday alleging that Kejriwal’s personal secretary, Vibhav Kumar, assaulted Swati at the Chief Minister’s residence. Swati dialled the police for assistance and subsequently proceeded to a nearby police station. However, no official report was filed. This incident caused a stir, particularly considering that it occurred at Kejriwal’s residence, who claims to be a staunch advocate for women’s rights, amid ongoing elections where he vehemently denies corruption charges.
Rumours circulated on social media suggesting that Swati was pressured to vacate her Rajya Sabha seat to make way for senior lawyer Abhishek Manu Singhvi, who is representing Kejriwal in his legal battles.
However, experts doubt the credibility of such claims, asserting that resignations are not typically the subject of disputes. Despite Kejriwal’s assurance of taking action against his personal secretary, questions arose regarding Kejriwal and his wife Sunita Kejriwal’s whereabouts, especially as Sunita has begun engaging in politics.
Revelations surfacing in the public domain are exacerbating Kejriwal’s woes, particularly regarding alleged transaction-related disputes. Experts suggest that Swati, being well-versed in such matters, should have alerted the authorities if she felt intimidated by Kejriwal’s personal secretary, as it could further escalate Kejriwal’s existing challenges. Sanjay Singh’s attempt to downplay the incident with a statement aimed at pacifying Swati does not seem likely to quell the matter, particularly during the election season. Swati’s recent actions hint at potential revelations to come, potentially placing Kejriwal in further controversy. Despite the party’s efforts to defend Raghav Chadda, if both Swati and Raghav disclose information or are approached by investigative agencies, Kejriwal may find himself embroiled in deeper controversies.
This could cast doubts on Kejriwal’s integrity, especially as he continues to assert his innocence post-release on bail, emphasizing his imminent release upon the victory of the India alliance.