AAP's Swati Maliwal (left) and party chief and Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal (right) seen in this collage
Credit: PTI Photos
New Delhi: AAP Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal on Monday approached police claiming that a member of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's personal staff "assaulted" her at CM's official residence though she did not file a formal complaint, police said.
Maliwal could not be reached for her comments while the Chief Minister's Office and AAP also did not comment on the incident, which is said to have taken place around 9:30 AM when she went to meet Kejriwal.
The BJP took up the issue alleging that the incident took place when Kejriwal was present at his residence while National Commission for Women (NCW) said it "vows action, demanding justice" from Delhi Police besides sending an inquiry team. "Perpetrators must be held accountable. NCW will be sending a formal letter to Delhi Police to send an ATR in this matter in three days," NCW said.
According to police, they received a call in their control room at 9.34 AM from a woman who said she had been assaulted at the Delhi Chief Minister's residence. "After some time, the MP came to the police station. However, she left stating she will give a complaint later," Deputy Commissioner of Police (North) M K Meena told reporters.
Police officials claimed that the call was made from Maliwal's mobile number. Soon after the call, a team from the local Civil Lines police station reached the Kejriwal's residence. The Station House Officer met Maliwal there who told him she would soon be going to the police station.
Police said she was told that a medical examination is necessary to file an assault FIR. "She was at the police station for five minutes and left without filing any formal complaint. She said she would be back later," an official said.
BJP's New Delhi candidate Bansuri Swaraj told reporters, "we got a shameful news today that after getting instigated by Arvind Kejriwal, his OSD has beaten and misbehaved with one of their party's MP Swati Maliwal. She also made a call to Delhi Police and complained regarding the same. The incident took place in the presence of Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal at his residence. BJP strongly condemns this incident."
Delhi BJP President Virendra Sachdeva demanded an investigation into the matter. "If such a thing happens to any woman, she should get justice," he told reporters.