Who is Swati Maliwal? All you need to know about techie-turned-women's rights champion

Unbowed, Unbent, Unbroken. Just these three words can sum up the indomitable spirit of Swati Maliwal aka ‘The Lady Singham Of Delhi’. The Aam Aadmi Party leader remains relentless in her pursuit to seek justice and bring her assailant Bibhav Kumar, an aide of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, to the task.

The AAP leader hit headlines as she slammed Kumar of physical assault. In her FIR, she alleged that Kumar had slapped, dragged and kicked her in the chest. The incident took place in the Delhi CM’s official residence, in his presence.

In the complaint lodged yesterday, Ms. Maliwal stated that she visited Arvind Kejriwal's residence at 6, Flag Staff Road, Civil Lines, and tried to reach the chief minister's aide without success. She mentioned notifying the staff of her arrival and being instructed to wait in the drawing room. Allegedly, while waiting, Bibhav Kumar entered the room abruptly and began verbally assaulting her. Later, the situation escalated and she was slapped and beaten up. Kumar refused to stop his beatings even after she pleaded that she was menstruating and was in great pain.


She managed to extricate herself and ran out of the house to call the police. When the security personnel showed up, they followed Mr Kumar’s orders to throw her out, instead of assisting her. She was compelled to vacate the premises and wait outside the Chief Minister's residence until the police arrived.

On Friday, a video clip which was a CCTV footage of the brawl that transpired between Kumar and Maliwal went viral on social media. Reacting to the clip, she wrote, “This 'political hitman' is making efforts to save himself. Truth will emerge after CCTV footage of Delhi CM's residence, drawing room is investigated," she tweeted.

“Who makes a video of someone being beaten up? The truth will be revealed when CCTV footage of the house and the room is checked," said the AAP MP, ending her note with a cryptic, “God is watching everything.”

Who Is Swati Maliwal?

Maliwal is a politician and women rights activist. She is one of the most prominent voices in left wing politics. Before delving into politics, the Rajya Sabha MP had been one of the participants in the 2011 anti-corruption movement led by Anna Hazare. She was also the chairperson of the Delhi Commission Of Women for 2015-2024.

Maliwal is known for being outspoken about injustice, without beating around the bush. This has led to the moniker of ‘Lady Singham Of Delhi’.

Here’s all you need to know about ‘Lady Singham’.

She is a survivor of rape: In a 2023 interview with The Indian Express, Maliwal revealed she a victim of child sexual abuse. Her father, who was in the Indian Armed Force said she was sexually assaulted by her father. She revealed her father often used to beat her up, causing her to hide under the bed. The abuse continued till she was in the fourth grade.

She’s a techie: She is a graduate from the JSS Academy Of Technical Education. She holds a degree in Information Technology.

In 2015, at the age of 31, she was appointed as the chairperson of Delhi Women’s Commission. She became the youngest member to hold the position. She campaigned for the enactment of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015, which permitted individuals aged 16 to 18 years to be tried as adults in cases involving serious crimes.

She was married to AAP politician Naveen Jaihind in 2012. However, the couple called it quits in 2020. She announced their separation on X, mourning that their “fairytale had ended.”