Judicial Custody of Kejriwal’s Aide Extended to June 22 in Assault Case

The judicial custody of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s aide Bibhav Kumar has been extended till June 22 by a court. Kumar is accused of assaulting AAP Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal on May 13 at the chief minister’s official residence. During a video conference, Kumar was presented before the duty metropolitan magistrate, who extended the custody and directed the Delhi Police to produce him on June 22. On Friday, the court had extended Kumar’s custody by one day due to the absence of the investigating officer. Kumar was arrested on May 18 and sent to police custody for five days by a magisterial court which observed that his anticipatory bail plea had become ineffective because of his arrest. On May 24, he was sent to four days judicial custody, after which he was again put into 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 an attempt to commit culpable homicide.