May 19th 2024.
On a late Saturday evening, the Delhi Police submitted a remand paper to the Metropolitan Magistrate, requesting for seven days of custody for Bibhav Kumar, an aide of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. This was in relation to an alleged assault on AAP Rajya Sabha member Swati Maliwal, which the police deemed as a 'serious case'. They mentioned that the assault was brutal and could have even turned fatal.
The investigating agency informed the magistrate that Kumar had not been cooperative with the police and had been evasive during questioning. According to the remand paper signed by North District Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police Anjitha Chepyala, despite being asked specific questions, the accused had not been forthcoming in their investigation.
The police pointed out that Maliwal's testimony before the magistrate was supported by medical evidence. She had alleged that Kumar had not only screamed, threatened and used abusive language against her, but also brutally assaulted her by dragging her and banging her head on a center table.
The most crucial piece of evidence, according to the police, was the digital video recording of the incident. However, they stated that it had not yet been provided to them. The plea for police custody also mentioned that a junior engineer at the CM's residence, who did not have access to the place where the DVR and CCTV cameras were installed, had provided a video of the dining room. However, upon further investigation, it was found to be blank at the time of the alleged incident.
The police argued that Kumar's presence at the chief minister's residence on the day of the alleged assault raised suspicions of tampering with crucial evidence, including electronic evidence. They also highlighted his influential position and nine years of experience in an authoritative role, which could potentially influence and pressure witnesses in the CM's house.
In their explanation for seeking police custody, the application stated that Kumar had been terminated as the CM's personal secretary in April 2024, but was still working in the residence. The police needed to question him about his role and authority in the CM's residence. They also mentioned another case registered against Kumar in Noida for allegedly assaulting a public servant on duty.
The police emphasized the need for sustained interrogation in order to uncover the motive behind the brutal attack on a public figure who is also a sitting MP. They believed that there may be a conspiracy or involvement of individuals or organizations with malicious intentions towards the country.
Kumar had claimed to have formatted his mobile phone in Mumbai on Friday and that it was password protected. The police argued that without his personal presence and assistance, they would not be able to access the phone and its apps. They also needed to take him to an expert to retrieve the mobile data and determine if the phone had indeed been formatted, as it was an essential piece of evidence.
The plea for remand also mentioned that Kumar could potentially threaten witnesses and tamper with evidence, as he was in a position of command and had access to the SOC (security operations center).
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