Arvind Kejriwal's aide Vibhav Kumar was apprehended by the Delhi Police on Saturday from the Chief Minister's residence in the Swati Maliwal case. However, how did the police learn about Vibhav's presence at the CM's House? According to Delhi Police sources, this information was gleaned from local intelligence. As soon as the intel was received, the police sprang into action. A team from the Special Staff of the North Delhi Police was immediately dispatched to the CM's House.
The North District’s woman IPS officer, along with the Additional DCP of Civil Lines and SHO, arrived at the CM's House. When the police entered, Vibhav came out of his room and surrendered to the authorities. Vibhav was then escorted to the Civil Lines police station via a back gate of the CM's residence. At that time, AAP MP Raghav was also present at the CM House but did not protest the police’s action.
Authorities are now probing why Vibhav visited the CM House the day before. Following Swati Maliwal's complaint, Vibhav traveled from Lucknow to Amritsar then to Mumbai before arriving in Delhi in company with the CM.
Why did Vibhav format his phone?
Sources disclose that Vibhav Kumar is uncooperative with the investigation. He asserts that he formatted his mobile phone because it had hung. His responses to most questions are limited to a simple 'yes' or 'no.' The police do not believe Vibhav's story, which is why they might consult the Mumbai Police for further investigation, and add section 201 for destruction of evidence to the FIR.
The Delhi Police is also curious to uncover the actual motive behind the assault without any apparent provocation. The involvement of other potential suspects behind this scene is also under scrutiny. Noteworthy to mention, the police have yet to recover the DVR.
What does Delhi Police's remand copy reveal?
The accused has confessed to formatting his mobile in Mumbai. He claimed to have been using an Apple iPhone 15, which is password-protected.
Without the personal presence and assistance of the accused, it is impossible to access the phone and its data.
Expert assistance will be required to access the mobile data and to verify the fact of the phone formatting, both crucial pieces of evidence.
According to the accused, he was employed as the personal secretary to the Chief Minister of Delhi; however, his services had already been terminated by competent authority.
An investigation is needed into how Vibhav continued to work in the CM’s residence, a location sensitive from a security standpoint.
Vibhav has not provided any response or shown any written orders to clarify who he was working under and why he was there.
According to the JE-supplied CCTV footage, the footage of the relevant time and duration is found empty, and tampering with crucial evidence cannot be denied.
