Delhi’s former law Minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Somnath Bharti faces arrest after the Delhi Police registered a First Information Report (FIR) against him on multiple counts of domestic violence, attempt to murder, trying to kill the baby in the womb of his wife and dowry harassment. The Delhi Police registered the case against Bharti after his estranged wife lipika Mitra lodged a written complaint against him.
With trouble mounting, the Malviya Nagar MlA refused to comment on the development, saying he had not seen the copy of the FIR while AAP called it a tactic to “deviate attention” on the part of Delhi Police.
“This is nothing but an attempt to deviate attention from the Seemapuri case as the timing of the FIR is questionable. Police have arrested three of our MlAs until now with malafide intention. So, let them do what they want,” senior AAP leader Ashutosh said.
A court had on July 7 dismissed an anticipatory bail plea moved by Bharti saying the application was premature since no FIR had been lodged against him then.
Following the registration of the FIR, a Delhi court recorded Mitra’s statement before Metropolitan Magistrate Manu Goel Kharb in-chamber under Section 164 of CrPC.
Source said Mitra reiterated what she had already told the police in her statement.
The FIR was registered on Wednesday at Dwarka North Police Station
under IPC Sections 307 (attempt to murder), 498(A) (cruelty towards partner in marriage), 324 (voluntarily causing hurt), 406 (criminal breach of trust), 420 (cheating), 506 (criminal intimidation) and causing miscarriage.
The FIR was filed after counseling of the couple twice as Crime Against Women Cell in West Delhi failed. Mitra wanted the case to be registered as she saw no chance of reconciliation with Bharti.
His wife had filed a complaint before the women's commission and Delhi Police in June this year after she was allegedly assaulted by him.
Joint Commissioner of Police Dependra Pathak told The Pioneer that they have all evidence against Bharti which can prove him guilty in court. Pathak said they were in the process of verifying all the facts and would move accordingly.
When asked about the possibility of Bharti being arrested, Pathak said that the police would move only after completing all the due processes of law.
"The case has been registered against him after proper counseling of Bharti and his wife was done," said Pathak.
Mitra, an MBA who works with an MNC said that she wanted separation from her husband due to the continuous physical and mental harassment by Bharti. At present, she lives with her two children at Dwarka.
In the four-page FIR, a copy of which is with The Pioneer, Mitra said: "I am in need of immediate and adequate indulgence of your office as I am under continuous mental pressure from my husband Somnath Bharti. There is a persistent threat by my husband on my person and that of my two small children."
Mitra said they got married in December 2010 after they met through a matrimonial website. She revealed that soon after marriage she got to know that Bharti had married her on false promises and assurances.
The couple went on a honeymoon from December 13 to 21, 2010. "On Bharti's request the honeymoon was organized by me. During the honeymoon, Bharti misbehaved with me several times. At that point of time he confessed to me that his financial condition was not good and he was burdened with various debts and therefore would need my financial support to survive," Mitra said in her statement.
She further added that after returning from the honeymoon, "Bharti told me to hand over all the jewellery bought by me to my mother-in-law. My mother-in-law also demanded all gifts received during the wedding, which I handed over to her. I never raised any objection because by that time, I had already conceived and was in need of my new family's support. However, despite being pregnant I was subjected to regular verbal, mental and physical abuse by my mother-in-law and Bharti."
"On February 23, 2011, I was beaten up by Bharti and after that I decided to leave the matrimonial house," she said in the FIR.
On February 24, Bharti started calling at her workplace and abused her despite the fact that she was pregnant. On October 17, 2011, she filed a complaint with the Crime Against Women's Cell at Sector 9 in Dwarka.
During that period he kept coming to her house. In September 2012, she conceived their second child. "On March 19, 2013, Bharti abused me verbally and physically and tried to strangulate me despite the fact that I was pregnant."
She alleges that he unleashed his labrador on her and did not even provide her any medical aid after she was mauled by the dog. Their son was born on May 27, 2013, but Bharti and his family did not visit her.
In June 2013, when Bharti was standing for the Assembly elections, he asked for support from his wife. In January 2014, she conceived again but Bharti allegedly adviced her to terminate her pregnancy. He was the law Minister then. later, on August 10, 2014, she alleged that he again physically and verbally abused her in front of their children when she sought financial support.
On May 27, 2015, when she was slapped and abused by Bharti yet again, she decided to move the Delhi Commission for Women and Delhi Police.