Party doing my ‘character assassination’ to save a ‘gunda’: Swati Maliwal rebuts AAP’s allegations

New Delhi [India], May 17 (ANI): As the row over the alleged assault on Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal continues to intensify, the former Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) chief attacked her party accusing it of saving a "Gunda" (hitman) and indulging in her "character assassination".
The Aam Aadmi Party MP alleged that the accused -- whom she throughout refers to in the post as "gunda" -- is "threatening" the party of "exposing" its secrets.
Maliwal's response came soon after the press conference by AAP leader Atishi, where she termed the Rajya Sabha MP's visit to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's residence as "part of a conspiracy" and
In an apparent jibe at Atishi, the former Delhi Commission of Women (DCW) in her post stated, "kal ke aaye neta" (leaders who joined the party yesterday) while drawing comparison with her long association with AAP.
The AAP MP also pointed out that while her party had initially accepted the assault against her, now they have taken a "U-turn" in the case.
Taking to social media platform X, Maliwal said, "The new leaders in the party called a 20-year-old party worker as BJP's agent. Two days back, the party had accepted the whole truth and today they have taken a U-Turn. This gunda (hitman) is threatening the party that if he gets arrested, he will expose all the secrets. That's why he is running in shelter from Lucknow to other places."
"Today, under his pressure bowed down and raised questions on my character to save a hitman. It doesn't matter, I have kept on fighting for the women of the whole country all alone, and will keep on fighting. Do as much character assassination, the whole truth will come out at the right time," she added.
https://x.com/SwatiJaiHind/status/1791467669423600021
Earlier, Atishi rejected the allegations made by Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal in the assault case and said that the former DCW chief was sent to CM Kejriwal's residence by Bharatiya Janata Party as a part of a conspiracy so that "false accusations" could be levelled against AAP chief.
Addressing a press conference, Delhi Minister Atishi called Swati Maliwal the "face and pawn" of BJP's conspiracy. Senior AAP leader said that Arvind Kejriwal got saved from this conspiracy as he was not present at the CM's residence when the incident occurred.
On the remarks made by AAP leader Sanjay Singh at a recent press conference that their party is with Swati Maliwal, Atishi said that at that point Singh was only aware of Maliwal's side.
"Till that point, Sanjay Singh was only aware about Swati Maliwal's side. Now he got to know about the Bibhav Kumar's side. The video which has surfaced clearly shows that what Maliwal mentioned in FIR are just mere false accusations. Her lies have come out in front of the whole country," she said.
Prior to this, the Aam Aadmi Party attacked Maliwal with a post "Swati Maliwal ka sach (Swati Maliwal's truth)."
The post refers to a news story with a purported video clip of the Rajya Sabha MP and security personnel at CM Kejriwal's residence from May 13, the day of the alleged assault. However, Delhi Police has said that the video is yet to be authenticated by them.
Earlier in the day, Maliwal reached the Delhi Chief Minister's residence for the recreation of the May 13 incident as part of the ongoing investigation. According to sources close to the Delhi Police, Additional DCP Delhi North, who is leading the investigation, Civil Line Police Station SHO and a team of forensic officials are present at the spot apart from Maliwal.
Delhi's Tis Hazari court on Friday recorded the statement of AAP Rajya Sabha MP in the assault case. An FIR has been lodged against Bibhav Kumar and other persons on her complaint.
Delhi Police filed an FIR in the case based on the complaint of Swati Maliwal and the details of the FIR have revealed shocking details.
In her complaint, Maliwal has alleged that Kejriwal's personal Secretary Bibhav Kumar "slapped" her "at least seven to eight times" while she "continued screaming" and "brutally dragged" her while "kicking" her in her "chest, stomach and pelvis area."
The FIR was filed under IPC Sections 308 (Attempt to commit culpable homicide), 341 (Punishment for wrongful restraint), 354B (Assault or use of criminal force to woman with intent to disrobe), 506 (Punishment for criminal intimidation), and 509 (Word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman). (ANI)