Swati Maliwal assault case: Court extends Bibhav Kumar's judicial custody till June 22

Pic/PTI

Delhi's Tis Hazari court on Saturday extended till June 22 the judicial custody of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's aide Bibhav Kumar in connection with the Swati Maliwal assault case, reported news agency PTI.

Bibhav Kumar is accused of assaulting AAP Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal on May 13 at the chief minister's official residence.

Bibhav Kumar was produced through video conferencing before the duty metropolitan magistrate, who extended the custody and directed the Delhi Police to produce him on June 22, reported PTI.

Earlier on Friday, the court had extended Kumar's custody by one day after noting that the investigating officer (IO) was not present.

Kumar was arrested on May 18 in connection with the Swati Maliwal assault case. He was sent to police custody for five days the same day by a magisterial court, which observed that his anticipatory bail plea had become infructuous because of his arrest, reported PTI.

On May 24, he was sent to four days judicial custody, following which he was again remanded in police custody for three days.

An FIR was registered against Kumar on May 16 under various Indian Penal Code provisions, including those related to criminal intimidation, assault or criminal force on a woman with the intent to disrobe and attempt to commit culpable homicide, reported PTI.

Recently, Delhi's Tis Hazari Court dismissed the regular bail plea of Bibhav Kumar.

The court dismissed the bail application in view of threats received by the victim, Swati Maliwal and apprehension of influencing the witnesses by the accused.

While dismissing the bail application, the court observed, "In view of the fact that investigation is at an initial stage and there is a fear in the mind of the victim regarding her security as well as the security of her family members.... There is also apprehension that the accused Bibhav Kumar would influence the witnesses, if at liberty," reported ANI.

"So I do not find any merit in the bail application of accused Bibhav Kumar. Hence, the present regular bail application of accused Bibhav Kumar is hereby dismissed," Special Judge Ekta Gauba Mann ordered on June 7, reported ANI.

This was the second bail plea which has been dismissed by the court.

Previously Kumar's first regular bail plea was dismissed on May 27.

(With inputs from PTI and ANI)