SC to hear bail plea of Somnath Bharti on Monday

The Supreme Court on Thursday agreed to hear a bail plea by AAP MLA Somnath Bharti, who has gone into hiding since the Delhi High Court rejected his petition for anticipatory bail.

A bench of Chief Justice H L Dattu and Justice Amitava Roy posted the matter for hearing on September 28 after senior advocate Pramod Swaroop, appearing for Bharti, mentioned the petition seeking protection from arrest in a domestic violence and attempt to murder case.

The counsel sought direction to stay the non-bailable warrant issued against Bharti but the court told him that the matter would be heard on Monday.

Bharti had on Wednesday approached the apex court seeking protection from arrest in the case and a direction to restrain Delhi Police from arresting him till his plea against the High Court order was decided.

The High Court had on September 22 dismissed his anticipatory bail plea, saying the allegations against him were backed by “documentary proof”.

 The HC also said that being an MLA he should have shown more “generosity and responsibility towards his wife and children”.

Terming the allegations against the former Delhi Law Minister by his wife, Lipika Mitra, as “very serious”, Justice Suresh Kait of the high court had said she has been tolerating his “cruelty” and “brutal assault”.