Delhi HC dismisses Somnath Bhartis anticipatory bail plea

AAP MLA Somnath Bharti faces arrest in connection with a domestic violence and attempt to murder case lodged by his wife as the Delhi High Court on Tuesday declined to grant him anticipatory bail.

The court also made note of his visit at the police station at 2 am and the previous FIR in the Khirki Extension raid case in its judgment dismissing the bail plea.

A contingent of the police appeared outside his home and offices after the court order, but the lawmaker was not seen.

“We will move Supreme Court immediately”. Mr Bharti had moved the high court after his petition was rejected by a lower court.

A senior Delhi Police official said that investigators want to conduct Bharti’s custodial interrogation but he is yet to present himself for questioning, indicating that the former Delhi minister’s arrest may be imminent.

Meanwhile Mr. Bharti refuted allegations that he could his dog to bite anyone by instructing it to bite police officers at a police station.

Lipika had filed a complaint with the Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) in June, accusing Somnath of committing acts of domestic violence and mental torture since 2010. On his part, Bharti has maintained that the charges against him are false and baseless. He says that his estranged wife “is being used for political reasons” to embarrass him.

The public prosecutor in the matter, however, said that Bharti, as a responsible citizen, should co-operate in the investigations, and said that his arrest was possible. After taking power for the second time, Arvind Kejriwal decided not to include Mr Bharti.