Swati Maliwal Alleges Rape and Death Threats after video by Dhruv Rathee
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Swati Maliwal said she tried to contact Rathee but he did not reply (Image" Daily Guardian/Mid-day)
AAP MP Swati Maliwal has reported receiving rape and death threats following her allegations of assault against Bibhav Kumar, a close aide to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. Maliwal contends that a character assassination campaign, orchestrated by AAP leaders and volunteers, along with a defamatory video by YouTuber Dhruv Rathee, has intensified these threats.
This comes amid the ongoing tussle between the party (AAP) and Maliwal over her alleged assault by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s aide Bibhav Kumar earlier this month.
Maliwal has accused Bibhav Kumar of physically assaulting her at the CM’s residence. Initially, AAP acknowledged the incident but later reversed its stance. Rathee’s video, uploaded on May 22, portrays Maliwal negatively, depicting her as rude to security staff and questioning her claims of injury. According to Maliwal, this video has exacerbated the abuse and threats against her.
She criticized Rathee for acting as an AAP spokesperson and ignoring her attempts to present her side. Maliwal pointed out several omissions in Rathee’s video, including her MLC report that documented her injuries and the partial release of CCTV footage. She also raised concerns about the accused’s phone being formatted and his re-entry into the crime scene, suggesting possible evidence tampering.
Maliwal has reported these threats to the Delhi Police, seeking swift action. She stressed that the party’s efforts to vilify her expose their stance on women’s issues. Despite alleged intimidation by her party to withdraw her complaint, Maliwal remains steadfast.
Bibhav Kumar, arrested on May 18, is currently in judicial custody. The incident has fueled a clash between AAP and BJP, with both parties accusing each other of conspiracy.
Maliwal also claimed that the AAP leadership is trying to intimidate her into withdrawing her complaint.
“The manner in which the entire party machinery and its supporters have attempted to vilify and shame me speaks volumes about their stance on women’s issues,” Maliwal stated.
In her post, the former DCW chief listed five points that Dhruv Rathee failed to mention in his 2.5-minute video against her.
“It is shameful that individuals like him, who claim to be independent journalists, could act like AAP spokespersons and shame me to the extent that I am now facing extreme abuse and threats,” Maliwal said.
In her X post, she accused the party of attempting to intimidate her into withdrawing her complaint. “It is very clear that the party leadership is trying to intimidate me into withdrawing my complaint. Regarding Dhruv Rathee, I made several attempts to reach out to him to share my side, but he ignored my calls and messages. It is shameful that individuals like him, who claim to be independent journalists, could act like AAP spokespersons and shame me to the extent that I am now facing extreme abuse and threats,” she wrote.
