Arvind Kejriwal office staffer “misbehaved” with Swati Maliwal : AAP leader
Delhi Police confirmed they received calls from within Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s residence, from a phone number registered to Swati Maliwal, alerting them to harassment. AAP Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal was allegedly harassed by Arvind Kejriwal’s personal assistant, Bibhav Kumar, at the Chief Minister’s city residence, according to party leader Sanjay Singh. This incident, which occurred on Tuesday, has drawn widespread condemnation and political backlash.
Sanjay Singh described the event as “highly condemnable” and assured that Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal would take strict action. “A very distressing incident took place yesterday morning. Arvind Kejriwal had called Swati Maliwal for a meeting. She was waiting in the drawing room to meet him when Bibhav Kumar came in and misbehaved with her. After this, Ms. Maliwal called the police and told them what happened,” said Mr. Singh.
The BJP swiftly attacked the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) over the incident. Delhi BJP President Virendra Sachdeva questioned the delay in addressing the issue, asking, “Why were they silent for 36 hours? Where was the Chief Minister? A Rajya Sabha MP… that too a woman… was misbehaved with at Mr. Kejriwal’s home and you are taking cognizance only now?” He declared the situation “shameful” and demanded immediate action.
Arvinder Singh Lovely, a recent BJP recruit from the Congress, echoed similar sentiments, stating, “If Swati Maliwal has been treated like this… it is condemnable and shameful. Those who talk about guarantees cannot guarantee women’s safety in their own homes. This raises questions on the administration.”
The National Commission for Women (NCW) has taken note of the incident and demanded an ‘action-taken’ report from Delhi Police within 72 hours. The NCW’s involvement underscores the seriousness of the allegations and the growing pressure on the AAP to address the matter promptly.
This incident comes amid ongoing political turmoil for the AAP, which has been facing criticism and legal challenges. The Enforcement Directorate has accused the party of receiving bribes worth ₹100 crore for liquor license allotments, allegedly used to fund election campaigns in Goa and Punjab. Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and the AAP have denied these charges, calling them a “political vendetta” by the BJP ahead of the general election.
Last week, Arvind Kejriwal received bail from the Supreme Court, allowing him to campaign for the AAP until June 1, with a requirement to surrender to Delhi’s Tihar Jail by June 2.
The harassment allegations involving Swati Maliwal at Arvind Kejriwal’s residence have intensified scrutiny on the AAP and its leadership. As investigations continue, the political fallout and implications for women’s safety and party governance remain key concerns.