New Delhi: Vibhav Kumar, who has been accused by Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal of attacking him at the civilian residence of External Affairs Minister Arvind Kejriwal on May 13, is known to be close to the AAP supremo. Kumar, who has been associated with Kejriwal for nearly two decades, is seen as a bridge between CM Delhi and the outside world.
He is said to be the sole medium through which party workers, media and others communicate with Kejriwal and also performs various official duties in the Delhi Secretariat and the CM’s public relations office. Be it political meetings, public events or private functions that Kejriwal attends, Vibhav is always there like a shadow.
The 43-year-old, who holds a master’s degree and a diploma in journalism from Delhi University, said he was contacted when he was working for Kabir, an NGO run by former CM deputy secretary and founding member of AAP, Manish Sisodia, soon Vibhav started running his business as Kejriwal’s personal assistant.
Around that time, people familiar with the matter said, he met Mr. Maliwal, an adviser to Mr. Kejriwal at the Public Cause Research Foundation, an NGO run by Mr. Kejriwal. They added that Bibhav and Maliwal are working together on several projects.
When Kejriwal launched India’s anti-corruption movement in 2012, Bibhav was always by his side.
Mr. Vibhav, who has always been known for working behind the scenes, came to prominence last year after the Vigilance Bureau of the Delhi government questioned a disabled person as to why he had been allotted a Type VI bungalow against the rules. Within three months, this disabled person’s accommodation was terminated.
They conducted raids at various locations, including establishments linked to Bibau, and were questioned by investigative agencies in April in connection with the excise policy case. He was reportedly under the ED’s radar in connection with the money laundering probe related to excise policy and corruption in the Delhi Jal board.
In April, the Directorate General of Vigilance removed Vibhav Kumar from his post as personal secretary to the prime minister. Bibau appealed the decision to the Central Administrative Court, but was unable to obtain a stay. The vigilance agency referred to an old case from 2007 in which Mr. Bi Babu was accused of obstructing government business.