The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), on Saturday, shared a new CCTV video of Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal being escorted out of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s residence by a lady security officer on May 13. Sharing the video on X, AAP claimed it “exposes the truth” behind Maliwal’s allegations of assault by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s aide Bibhav Kumar.
The video comprises of CCTV footage from two cameras outside the Chief Minister’s residence. In the video, it can be seen that Maliwal is being escorted out of Kejriwal’s house by a female security personnel. The footage also captured Maliwal allegedly being engaged in an argument with security personnel outside the premises.
स्वाति मालीवाल के आरोपों की असलियत उजागर कर रहा है ये वीडियो pic.twitter.com/dBkH5YhKdD— AAP (@AamAadmiParty) May 18, 2024
AAP used the clip to publicly criticize Maliwal once again. In the video, the narrator points out that there are no signs of injury on Maliwal. Her clothes are also perfectly fine and she displays no signs of distress, as she claimed in her complaint to the Delhi police, they said.
The authenticity of the video can’t be ascertained for now but it has set the social media buzzing. This is the second clip that AAP has released in connection with the alleged assault.
Meanwhile, CNN-News18 accessed Maliwal’s medico-legal case (MLC) report which suggests that ‘she had injuries under her eye and on her legs’.
AAP’s ‘Conspiracy’ Charge
The video came hours after AAP leader and Delhi minister Atishi dismissed Swati Maliwal’s allegations as part of a “BJP conspiracy.”
Calling for an unbiased probe, Atishi said Maliwal was used as a ‘pawn’ by the Bharatiya Janata Party to ‘hatch this conspiracy” against AAP.
“…The way ED, CBI, anti-corruption bureau, Income tax dept, Economic Offences Wing were used to blackmail opposition leaders and make them join BJP, similarly in Swati Maliwal’s case also same formula was used,” Atishi said.
She added that an Anti-Corruption Bureau has filed a case against Swati Maliwal, and alleged that the BJP is using the case as leverage against the Rajya Sabha MP.
“There is a case against Swati Maliwal by Anti-Corruption Bureau, FIR has been made and the probe is underway and using this, Swati Maliwal was made to hatch this conspiracy and was used as a pawn…there should be an unbiased probe on who was in contact with whom, Swati Maliwali met which all BJP members and when, what conversation they had on call and on Whatsapp,” the AAP leader added.
Earlier on Friday, Atishi at a press conference said that the assault case was a BJP conspiracy to frame Kejriwal.
Maliwal is the “face” of this “conspiracy” and the allegations levelled by her against Kumar are “baseless”, Atishi said.
BJP Dismisses Allegations
Dismissing AAP’s ‘conspiracy’ charge, BJP chief JP Nadda said no one from his party spoke to Maliwal. He also questioned Delhi CM’s ‘silence’ over the matter and said the Aam Aadmi Party is built on the foundation of lies and it has no credibility.
“Aam Aadmi Party is a party built on the foundation of lies and its credibility is not zero, it is in minus. Today Arvind Kejriwal has been exposed in front of the people of the country and the people of Delhi, he has been exposed in every way… If this thing has been hatched by BJP then why were you moving the mic (during PC in Lucknow) from here to there? Why are you silent? What is stopping you?” he asked during an interview with news agency ANI.
“The culture of the Aam Aadmi Party shows that they call people to their homes and beat them up…We never spoke to her (Swati Maliwal), nor did anyone from our party speak to her. This is not how we function. We are very straightforward. Now their theft has been caught…He has no credibility, his party also has no credibility. They can stoop to any level, any allegation,” Nadda added.
Swati Maliwal’s ‘After-Assault’ Video
On Friday, an alleged video of the incident surfaced on social media which captured the aftermath of assault on Maliwal. The minute-long video shows Maliwal using expletives and arguing with the security staff.
In the purported video, while the security staff is requesting the MP to leave the living room where she was sitting, Maliwal is heard saying, “Mai tumhari bhi naukri khaungi agar mujhe touch kara toh (I will get you terminated from your job if you touch me).”
Maliwal says she has called the police control room and would wait till the police arrive. “I will tell everyone. Let me talk to your DCP.” In the 52-second purported video, while the MP dares the security staff to “throw her outside”, one of the personnel says they won’t take such a step.
Maliwal’s Rebuttal
Reacting to a video that surfaced online, Maliwal said the “political hitman” has started making efforts to save himself “Like every time, this time also this political hitman has started making efforts to save himself,” she said in a post on X without naming anyone.
Maliwal also raised concerns over the integrity of the CCTV cameras installed at CM Kejriwal’s residence. In a statement posted on X, she alleged tampering with the CCTV footage and urged the Delhi Police to investigate the matter.
She also attacked her party for dismissing her assault allegations against Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s aide Bibhav Kumar as baseless, and said the AAP has given in under a “goon’s pressure” and is now questioning her character.
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), she said, has taken a “U-turn” two days after it accepted that Kumar had “misbehaved” with her.
Taking to X, Maliwal in a post in Hindi, said, “The leaders who joined the party (AAP) yesterday declared a worker who has been with it for 20 years an agent of the BJP. Two days ago, the party had accepted the truth in a press conference and, today, it has taken a U-turn.”
Without naming Kumar, she said, “This goon is threatening the party (AAP) saying that ‘if I get arrested, I will reveal all the secrets’. That is why he is roaming around in Lucknow and everywhere seeking shelter.”
“Today, under his pressure, the party gave in and to save a goon, my character was questioned by the entire party. No problem, I have been fighting alone for women of the entire country, I will fight for myself too. Do character assassination as much as possible, the truth will come out when the time comes,” Maliwal said on X.
Delhi Police Files FIR
The Delhi Police has registered an FIR against Kumar for allegedly assaulting Maliwal at the chief minister’s official residence. Atishi said that Kumar has also filed a police complaint against Maliwal.
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