Former Delhi law minister Somnath Bharti was given two-day protection against arrest by Delhi High Court yesterday. Today (16 September) he is learnt to have surrendered before the Delhi Police to join the investigation in a case of domestic violence registered against him by his wife. Bharti, an Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) legislator from Malviya Nagar, had approached the Delhi High Court for anticipatory bail on Tuesday, and surrendered hours after he was given protection against arrest till September 17.
Following a late night brainstorming session on the issue with party members, Bharti is believed to have been asked to join police investigation.
If he is taken into custody, Bharti will be the fourth AAP MLA to be arrested. In the last four months, AAP MLAs Jitendra Singh Tomar, Manoj Kumar and Surinder Singh have been arrested by Delhi Police in different cases.
However, in view of the fact that he was granted two-days protection by Delhi High Court, directing that no coercive steps be taken against him till September 17, it is unlikely that Delhi Police would be arresting him. In any case, depending on what language was used in the Delhi High Court order, even if he is arrested, he will have to be released on bail in view of the 2-days protection given to him (as it happens in anticipatory bail). Therefore, it appears that the act of surrendering by Somnath Bharti must have been well-calculated since he knows that no coercive action can be taken by Delhi Police for 2 days.
