Lipika Mitra, wife of Delhi's former law minister Somnath Bharti, on Monday said she was hurt by her husband’s statement that the couple had had no relationship over the past five years, and that she wanted an FIR against him for making such a remark.
Amid high drama at a media interaction organised at the home of Delhi Commission for Women Chairperson Barkha Singh, Lipika said she could even move court against her estranged husband.
She said her husband was prone to manipulations, and that it would be an embarrassment for both of them if she started making public emails that would establish their relationship and parenthood of their two children after marriage in 2010.
There was virtual commotion at the event as Bharti’s counsel walked in uninvited and tried to present the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader's version before reporters, but was prevented from doing so by Barkha Singh.
Bharti’s mother Manorama, who came with Bharti’s counsel, flashed a letter addressed to the DCW chairperson seeking counselling and compromise between her son and daughter-in-law. Claiming she wanted an early end to the confusion, the AAP leader’s mother offered to shift into an old age home if that would help reunite the couple.
Bharti currently lives with his mother in a house in south Delhi’s Malviya Nagar, while his wife Lipika and their two children live in west Delhi’s Dwarka area.
Barkha Singh told Bharti’s counsel to meet her in office on Tuesday. “This is my home, and I am just trying to help Lipika put across her point before media,” said the DCW chairperson.
Harassment
Lipika, in her complaint to the DCW on June 10, had alleged harassment by her husband and mother-in-law.
During Monday's interaction, she said: “My husband has manipulated the spouse details in his affidavit to the Election Commission before the polls.” She also said he had accused her of working for the BJP and being instigated by the police.
Lipika said she expected Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to hear her out in this case of domestic violence. “I expected Kejriwal to give me a fair chance and at least listen to me,” she said.
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