Delhi Police on Friday told a court in New Delhi that former law Minister Somnath Bharti, who is accused in a domestic violence case filed by his wife, can influence anyone.
Police told a metropolitan magistrate that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) lawmaker from Malviya Nagar constituency was an influential person and he can influence anyone.
The remark by police came on a plea filed by Bharti seeking cancellation of the non-bailable warrant issued against him.
According to sources, police in their reply sought custodial interrogation of the accused for conducting a fair investigation.
The sources said witnesses were not coming forward to depose against Bharti in fear, as he was an influential person.
Special public prosecutor Shailendra Babbar said the witnesses are not coming forward to give their statements in the case against Bharti in fear as he is an influential man.
Babbar told court that Bharti is misusing legal process citing his conduct over his sudden appearance before police on Wednesday wee hours, after getting relief from the High Court.
The court posted the matter for further hearing on September 25 as the concerned magistrate was on leave.
The former Delhi law Minister Somnath Bharti is facing serious charges of domestic violence, in a case filed by his wife lipika Mitra. She claimed that Bharti had slapped him, strangulated him and unleashed the pet dog ‘Don’ on her due to which she suffered multiple injuries.
Refuting his wife’s claims Bharti said his pet dog, Don, “cannot bite any one as he is a Golden labrador”, a breed that is usually very easygoing, of a kind temperament and friendly even with strangers.
Bharti said Don’s vet, who had been treating the dog for the past two years, had endorsed the dog’s “peaceful nature” in a report.
“To the best of my knowledge, Don has not exhibited any signs of aggression towards me, my staff, other pets or their owners,” Dr Pradeep Rana of Niti Bagh Pet clinic said in the medical report.