The political landscape of Delhi took another dramatic turn as the Supreme Court granted bail to Bibhav Kumar, an aide to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, in the alleged assault case filed by Swati Maliwal, a Rajya Sabha MP. This decision came a day after the court’s ruling, and the AAP leader’s subsequent cryptic social media post further fuelled the controversy.
Kejriwal shared a picture from the Hindu epic Mahabharata, depicting the ‘Cheer-haran’ of Draupadi, where Dushasana, a Kaurava prince, attempted to disrobe her in the presence of the court. The stark image, devoid of any caption, left the public to draw their own conclusions, sparking a wave of speculation and debate.
The parallel drawn between the mythical incident and the real-life case has drawn criticism from many, with some interpreting it as a veiled attempt to cast the victim, Maliwal, in a similar light to Draupadi. The ‘Cheer-haran’ episode is a powerful symbol of injustice and humiliation in the epic, and its use in this context has raised eyebrows.
In May, Maliwal accused Bibhav Kumar of assaulting her inside the Chief Minister’s residence, alleging that she was subjected to ‘Cheer-haran’ (disrobing) and subsequently endured character assassination. She expressed her deep sense of betrayal and trauma, stating that she felt let down by those she had trusted.
The Supreme Court, while granting bail to Bibhav Kumar, recognized the completion of the investigation and the filing of the charge sheet, ensuring that his release would not hinder the trial process. However, the court imposed restrictions, preventing Kumar from entering the Chief Minister’s residence until all witnesses have been examined and forbidding him from making public comments about the case.
This incident has further intensified the political tensions in Delhi, raising questions about the conduct of individuals in power and the sensitivity of using such powerful imagery in a political context. The case, now heading towards trial, is likely to continue drawing public attention and generate debate about the political climate and the power dynamics at play in the national capital.
