Delhi Police today (10 September 2015) registered a criminal case against Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA and Delhi’s former law minister Somnath Bharti on charges of domestic violence months after his wife Lipika Mitra filed a complaint against him alleging domestic abuse. Bharti has been named as an accused in a First Information Report (FIR) filed under several sections of the Indian Penal code (IPC), including domestic violence, at Dwarka North police station in West Delhi. This FIR has been filed on the basis of the June 10, 2015 complaint of Bharti’s wife Lipika Mitra.
“It was alleged by Mitra that Bharti has been abusing her ever since their marriage in 2010. She had also claimed that Bharti beat and tortured her and even tried to kill her once,” said a police official. According to the police official, Bharti has been accused of letting his dogs loose at her wife and their child. Bharti could not be contacted on his phone, but sources close to him confirmed that he was “shocked at the development” as he was in touch with his wife on SMS till Thursday morning.
According to sources, Bharti blamed the police for conspiring against him and framing unreasonable charges.
It may be pertinent to note that a court had on July 7, 2015, dismissed an anticipatory bail petition filed by Bharti under Section 438 of the Criminal Procedure Code saying it was “premature” as no FIR had been filed against him till then.
It is noteworthy that Bharti’s wife Mitra has also complained to the National Commission for Women against him for allegedly abusing her. (IANS)
