‘Was beaten at Kejriwal’s residence on his signal’: Swati Maliwal calls AAP a party of ‘thuggish’, ‘anti-women’, ‘corrupt’ elements

Amid fresh political ripples following Raghav Chadha’s recent merger with the BJP, Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal also announced her decision to quit the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), accusing Arvind Kejriwal of leading a party that harbours “thuggish”, “anti-women” and “corrupt” elements. She alleged that she was assaulted at the Chief Minister’s residence on his instructions. The allegations once again underline a deepening internal crisis within the party ahead of key political developments.

Maliwal said she had been “brutally beaten” and subjected to indecent treatment at Kejriwal’s residence. She alleged that the attack took place “on his signal” and claimed that those responsible were not only protected but also rewarded with influential positions. She said, “To protect his goon, he went to extreme lengths and rewarded him with high positions. Threats were made to ruin me, and every possible effort was made against me.”

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साल 2006 में अपनी नौकरी छोड़कर मैंने देश सेवा का मार्ग चुना था। RTI आंदोलन, अन्ना आंदोलन, आम आदमी पार्टी के गठन और दिल्ली महिला आयोग में 8 साल निष्ठापूर्वक काम करते हुए, मैंने हर चरण में पूरी ईमानदारी और समर्पण से योगदान दिया।

जिन सिद्धांतों, मूल्यों और ईमानदार राजनीति के संकल्प…

— Swati Maliwal (@SwatiJaiHind) April 24, 2026

Tracing her political journey, Maliwal said she left her job in 2006 to join public service, working through the RTI movement, the Anna movement, and later as part of the formation of AAP. She also cited her eight-year tenure with the Delhi Commission for Women, stating she had served with “complete honesty and devotion.”

However, she alleged that the party had strayed far from its founding principles. “The values and commitment to honest politics with which we began have been abandoned,” she said, directly holding Kejriwal responsible for the shift.

Maliwal further accused the party leadership of shielding wrongdoing, issuing threats against her, and allowing corruption and misconduct to grow unchecked. She also alleged instances of harassment and assault against women within the party, alongside betrayal and financial irregularities in Punjab.

The Rajya Sabha MP said she was in Itanagar for a parliamentary committee meeting when the incident occurred and would speak in greater detail after returning to Delhi later in the day.