NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Wednesday allowed the Delhi Police time till August 21 to file its detailed response on a bail plea made by Arvind Kejriwal's close aide Bibhav Kumar in a case of alleged assault of AAP Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal inside the Chief Minister's official residence.
A bench of Justices Surya Kant, Ujjal Bhuyan and Dipankar Dutta, scheduled the matter for further hearing on August 27 as Additional Solicitor General S V Raju for the police sought time to file a counter affidavit.
Senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, appearing for Kumar, said that the chargesheet has already been filed, which was the best counter.
Also Read: SC rebukes Kejriwal's aide in Swati Maliwal assault case
The court, however, gave time to police to file the counter affidavit on or before August 21 and rejoinder if any by Kumar by August 24, before fixing the matter for further hearing on August 27.
On August 1, 2024, the Supreme Court had rebuked Kumar for assaulting woman MP Maliwal, orally observing that it was shocked with the incident at the official residence of the Delhi Chief Minister.
Kumar's counsel had said the incident was of May 13 and the FIR is registered on May 16.
Kumar challenged validity of the Delhi High Court's order of July 12 dismissing his bail plea noting the possibility of him influencing the witness or tampering with evidence.
Also Read: Swati Maliwal Assault Case: Kejriwal's aide Bibhav Kumar files plea in SC for bail
The personal secretary to Kejriwal is currently in judicial custody. He allegedly assaulted Maliwal on May 13 at Kejriwal's official residence here.
An FIR was registered against Kumar on May 16 under various provisions of the Indian Penal Code, including those related to criminal intimidation, assault or using criminal force on a woman with the intent to disrobe and attempt to commit culpable homicide.
He was arrested on May 18.
Delhi Police claimed Kumar has been non-co-operative during investigation and gave evasive answers to its questions. It alleged that he deliberately did not disclose the password of his mobile phone, an important piece of information in the probe to unearth the truth.
