Bharti alleges bias, seeks further probe & FIR against cops

Former Delhi Law Minister and AAP leader Somnath Bharti today claimed bias in the probe against him in a case of alleged molestation of some African women during his purported midnight raid here earlier this year and sought in a court here further probe.

Bharti, who appeared in the court without even being summoned as accused in the case, and his counsel alleged bias in the investigation and also sought the court's direction for registration of FIR against three Delhi Police officials-- DCP of South Delhi, current and the then SHO of Malviya Nagar Police Station-- for "framing" him in the case.

As soon as the court asked the police to advance its submissions on the point of consideration on the charge sheet filed in the case, Bharti's counsel moved two applications seeking FIR against the police officials and a direction for further probe.

The court, however, asked Bharti as to what was his locus standi at this stage as he was not yet summoned as an accused.

"What is your locus standi in the case at this moment? You are not yet summoned by the court,"Metropolitan Magistrate Niti Phutela said.

To this, Bharti said "I am one of the proposed accused in the case and the court should hear me before taking cognizance of the charge sheet filed in the case."

Alleging that there was gross misuse of law done in the probe, Bharti said no prior sanction was taken from competent authority before lodging an FIR against him or filing of charge sheet against him as he was an elected representative of the people.

"They have framed me for political vendetta and these police officials should be booked for sedition charges as they have tried to topple the elected government at the time and framing an elected representative in a false case," Bharti said through his counsel in a jam-packed court room.

The court had on October 10 fixed today for hearing arguments on the point of consideration of the charge sheet filed in the case.

In its charge sheet, the police said "nine African women were victims of molestation and manhandling by a mob led by the then Law Minister Somnath Bharti".