Delhi Police adds fresh section against Bibhav Kumar for giving false information in Swati Maliwal assault case

financialexpress.com:

The Delhi Police have added charges of “disappearing evidence and giving false information” against Bibhav Kumar, aide to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, in connection with the alleged assault of AAP MP Swati Maliwal, news agency PTI quoted an official as saying on Monday.

Kumar is accused of assaulting Maliwal at the chief minister’s official residence on May 13.

The police have invoked Section 201 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), which pertains to causing the disappearance of evidence of an offense or giving false information to shield an offender. This section includes a provision for imprisonment amounting to one-sixth of the maximum punishment for the underlying offence, the official explained.

The initial FIR against Kumar was filed on May 16, citing IPC provisions related to criminal intimidation, assault or use of criminal force with intent to outrage modesty, and attempted culpable homicide.

Maliwal, a former chief of the Delhi Commission for Women, alleged that Kumar assaulted her, slapping and kicking her forcefully when she visited Kejriwal.

A senior police officer disclosed that Kumar’s mobile phone had been formatted before his arrest at Kejriwal’s residence on May 18. Investigations suggest that Kumar might have formatted his phone while in Mumbai but has not revealed where or to whom he shared the data. The police have conducted two trips to Mumbai as part of the investigation.

The officer further stated that Kumar has been uncooperative during his police custody.

Another police officer noted that three CCTV digital video recorders (DVRs) were collected from Kejriwal’s residence, including two from cameras at the entrance and one from outside the drawing room.