Former Delhi law minister Somnath Bharti can be arrested anytime by the Delhi police in connection with a domestic violence case lodged against him by his wife Lipika Mitra, after a Delhi court rejected his bail application and another issued a non-bailable warrant against him.
Earlier, the court had dismissed an anticipatory bail plea moved by Mr Bharti, saying the application was premature since no FIR had been lodged against him till then. On Monday, Mr Bharti’s counsel moved a plea before additional sessions judge Sanjay Garg, seeking anticipatory bail. They told the court that their client was a sitting MLA and there was no chance that he would flee if granted bail. His plea was opposed by the prosecution which said that allegations against Mr Bharti were serious. Ms Mitra, the wife of Mr Bharti, was also present in the court room, and she alleged that her husband had tried to strangle her and she was left to die in front of her kids.
“My small kids were suffering. I was left to die in front of them. I loved my husband that was why I suffered the abuse for five years,” she said.
When court asked her if she was willing to go for mediation, Ms Mitra refused, saying, “No reconciliation is possible as all attempts made earlier have failed.” The counsel of Mr Bharti said that the attempt to murder charge was not made out against him but the court rejected their contention.
The judge also made observation that Mr Bharti’s wife had to lodge a case against him for the second time as he was not mending his conduct despite assurances to the crime against women cell. “It is alleged that the applicant did not mend his conduct and continued to subject the complainant to cruelty. Considering the totality of the facts and circumstances, the applicant is not entitled to grant of anticipatory bail. The application is accordingly dismissed,” the judge said.
The Delhi police had also approached the magisterial court and moved a plea against Mr Bharti. The police had requested the court to issue an NBW against Mr Bharti as he was not willing to join the probe. The magisterial court after hearing the submission of the Delhi police allowed their plea and issued an NBW against Mr Bharti. After dismissal of the anticipatory bail plea, the MLA’s counsel Vijay Aggarwal said he will approach Delhi high court for the relief to his client. “We will move the high court shortly,” he said.
