Raid conducted at Bharti's house

MLA fails to attend questioning by cops

A raid was conducted by Delhi Police at Aam Aadmi Party MLA Somnath Bharti’s house in south Delhi’s Malviya Nagar after he failed to turn up for questioning in the case filed by his wife.

Police said a notice was served to the former law minister to join the probe late on Thursday. Bharti was not found at the house. Sources said Bharti has demanded seven days’ time to join the probe. Police, however, have refused.

On Friday, Bharti’s wife Lipika also met senior Delhi Police officers at Police Headquarters. She was accompanied by former Delhi Commission for Women chairperson Barkha Singh. Police assured Lipika that they will do a thorough investigation.

Bharti was on Wednesday booked for crimes ranging from attempt to murder to cheating.

The case was filed with Dwarka (North) police station after four rounds of mediation between the couple over three months.

“In the notice, Bharti was asked to appear before the investigating officer by 10.45 am on Friday. Bharti failed to turn up and even switched off his mobile phone,” said Joint Commissioner of Police (South Western Range) Dependra Pathak.

On Friday afternoon, Delhi Police Commissioner Bhim Sain Bassi said they would pursue the best possible legal options against Bharti while giving him the opportunity to put his version in the case.

Bassi evaded questions about Bharti’s arrest, but senior officers linked with the case opined that it would be done soon.

Bharti faces charges under sections 307 (attempt to murder), 323 (causing hurt) and 498-A (husband or relative of husband of a woman subjecting her to cruelty) of the Indian Penal Code.

Late on Thursday, Bharti told police that he would attend court on Friday morning and then reach Dwarka police station.

However, on Friday, he sent his lawyer with a letter requesting a week’s time. The raid was conducted when his mobile phone was found switched off.

Following the registration of the FIR, Lipika’s statement was also recorded before Metropolitan Magistrate Manu Goel Kharb under section 164 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. In the statement, she claimed domestic violence in the initial five years of their marriage.

In the four-page FIR, Lipika said: “I am in need of immediate and adequate indulgence of your office as I am under continuous mental pressure from my husband Somnath Bharti. There is a persistent threat by my husband on my person and that of my two small children.”

She also alleged that Bharti unleashed his Labrador on her and did not even provide her any medical aid after she was mauled by the dog.

On Friday, Lipika said her statement has been backed by evidence and documents. She also claimed that Bharti is a powerful man and has the backing from Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.