Kejriwal Aide Challenges Assault Charge: Legal Battle in Delhi Court

Bibhav Kumar, aide to former chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, has contested in a Delhi court a charge sheet accusing him of assaulting AAP MP Swati Maliwal. Filed under outdated legal codes, the plea claims awareness was taken on an 'incomplete chargesheet' lacking full evidence and judicial scrutiny.

Bibhav Kumar, a close aide to former chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, has mounted a legal challenge against a Delhi court's order taking cognisance of a police charge sheet accusing him of assaulting AAP MP Swati Maliwal.

The charges stem from an alleged incident at the chief minister's official residence on May 13, for which Kumar is currently out on bail. The court acknowledged the charge sheet on July 30, prompting Kumar's legal team, led by Manish Baidwan, to file a revision plea on October 29 in a Tis Hazari sessions court.

The defence argues that the cognisance was given 'mechanically' under an outdated criminal procedure code, rather than the new Bharatiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita, failing to consider key evidence such as CCTV footage. The plea contends the court overlooked significant procedural flaws, including an incomplete chargesheet and ambiguity over charges under Section 506 of the IPC.

(With inputs from agencies.)