New Delhi:

The Supreme Court on Thursday issued notice to Delhi Police on a bail plea filed by Bibhav Kumar, an aide of Aam Aadmi Party boss and Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. Mr Kumar was arrested in May after allegations of assault, inside Mr Kejriwal’s home, by AAP MP Swati Maliwal.

The next hearing has been set for August 7.

Bibhav Kumar was earlier denied bail by the Delhi High Court and a trial court.

Mr Kumar, in judicial custody till July 16, faces charges of criminal intimidation, assault or criminal force on a woman with intent to disrobe, and attempt to commit culpable homicide.

He also faces charges of “disappearing evidence and giving false information”.

In the brief hearing this morning the court acknowledged “we normally grant bail… we grant bail to murderers and killers”. However, in what may be seen as a bad sign going forward, it also remarked “look at the FIR. She (Ms Maliwal) was crying (during the assault)” and seemed unconvinced by arguments that Bibhav Kumar, if given bail, would not influence witnesses.

“If this kind of person can’t influence who can? Was anyone in the drawing room (of the Chief Minister’s home, where the alleged assault began) to speak against him… he doesn’t seem ashamed, we think,” a bench of Justices Surya Kant, Dipankar Datta and Ujjal Bhuyan remarked.

The court, in a particularly strong observation, also called Mr Kumar a “goon”.

Earlier today senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi, appearing for Mr Kumar, began by questioning the delay by Ms Maliwal in filing her complaint. He referred to Ms Maliwal’s visit to Delhi’s Civil Lines Police Station on May 13 (the day of the alleged assault) and the “strange story” in her FIR.

READ | 500-Page Chargesheet Against Kejriwal’s Aide In Swati Maliwal Case

“Incident was on May 13. FIR was lodged May 16… the story in FIR is strange. She went on the first day to the police station but came back (Ms Maliwal did not file a police complaint or make a statement on that day). Did not lodge FIR. Three days later, FIR was lodged with injuries…”

Mr Singhvi also argued that there are contradictions in Ms Maliwal’s complaints. “Even trial court should have granted bail… there are contradictions about where she says she was hit.”

In her complaint Ms Maliwal said she was hit in the chest, stomach and pelvic areas, and that she felt “absolutely shocked and was screaming for help over and over again”.

“In order to protect myself, I pushed him away with my legs. At that time, he pounced on me, brutally dragged and deliberately pulled my shirt up,” she told the cops.

READ | AAP Says Kejriwal Home Video Exposes Swati Maliwal “Lie”, She Snaps

On the claimed delay, the court pointed out that Ms Maliwal, the former head of the Delhi Commission for Women, had called the police helpline (112) “immediately after the incident”.

Delhi Police later confirmed a call had been placed – from Ms Maliwal’s phone and from inside Mr Kejriwal’s residence. The caller did not, however, reveal their identity, the police said.

“If she is calling 112 immediately after incident, what does it show?” the court shot back.

The court also questioned claims Ms Maliwal should be prosecuted as she had “trespassed” on Mr Kejriwal’s home. “Is it a private residence or office of Chief Minister?” the court asked.

Ms Maliwal has maintained she had an appointment with the Chief Minister on that day.

Mr Singhvi then objected to the court “treating the FIR as gospel” but was told the court is only interested in due processes. “We are not bothered by your internal and other politics.”

READ | Delhi LG Backs Swati Maliwal, AAP Says It Proves Her BJP Link

Bibhav Kumar has denied all allegations by Swati Maliwal, and the AAP has claimed that their senior leader is part of a “conspiracy” orchestrated by its main rival, the Bharatiya Janata Party.

READ | Swati Maliwal Cries In Court, Claims Threat If Bibhav Kumar Gets Bail

Last month, ahead of the trial court’s verdict on his bail appeal, Ms Maliwal claimed there would be threats to her life, and her family, if Mr Kumar were to be released from jail.

The case has sparked a predictable political spat between the AAP and the BJP, which has accused Mr Kejriwal of shielding his aide. The BJP has launched multiple protests on this issue.

The BJP has also demanded that Mr Kejriwal – battling legal problems of his own following his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate in March – resign, a demand he has rebuffed.

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A video of a scuffle between a group of people at the Tis Hazari Court mediation center in Delhi is viral with a false claim that it shows the alleged assault on Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Member of Parliament Swati Maliwal.

Maliwal in her complaint has alleged that she was attacked by Kejriwal’s aide, Bibhav Kumar on May 13, 2024, inside the CM’s residence. Kumar has denied the allegation and written to the Delhi Police for registering an FIR on his complaint too. The Delhi police arrested Kumar on May 18, 2024, to be produced in Tis Hazari Court according to The Indian Express.

The 49 secondz video is being shared on X with the caption, “Scene from Delhi CM’s official residence Sheesh Mahal @SwatiJaiHind, You should also see how the fight took place in #DelhiCMResidence. This was bound to happen, Swati Maliwal has been beaten up, the beating was done by Kejriwal’s PA, news is coming in that there is heavy kicking going on in the CMO, the reason given is that Swati, Marlona, ​​Sanjay, all want to become CM and Kejriwal wants to make his Rabri the Chief Minister, a lot of fighting is still left.

Click here to view, and here for an archive.

BOOM also received the viral video on our WhatsApp number (7700906588) inquiring about its authenticity.

Also Read:Posts Falsely Claim Pakistan Flag At Shiv Sena (UBT) Roadshow In Mumbai

FACT-CHECK

BOOM found that the viral video is from a scuffle at the Tis Hazari Court Mediation Center in Delhi and does not show the alleged assault on Maliwal.

We broke the video into keyframes and ran a reverse image search using Google and results showed several posts on Instagram and X. The posts stated that the viral video is from an incident at Tis Hazari Court Mediation Center in Delhi.

We also found several comments from lawyers stating that they were present at the spot after the fight broke out at the Tis Hazari Court Mediation Center.

Click here to view

We also found a blog from April 2024, shot at Tis Hazari Court, which visuals match the room in the viral video, which confirms the location. This can be seen from the 1.52 minutes timestamp.

Click here to view

Additionally, we found several posts with the viral video posted on May 12, 2024, which predates the Swati Maliwal assault case that was reported on the morning of May 13, 2024.

The viral video was posted on May 12, 2024, by the handle @iAtulKrishan1 with the caption, “Clash /Full drama. A video from Delhi’s Tis Hazari court has surfaced, showing family members clashing with each other in the mediation room. They came to settle their scores but ended up in conflict with each other”

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)