Former Delhi law Minister Somnath Bharti, who has been booked for attempt to murder, domestic violence and other criminal charges on his wife’s complaint, on Friday did not turn up for questioning before police which had sent a notice to him on Thursday night.
He was supposed to appear at 10.45 am on Friday but sent his lawyer instead asking time till September 16, a senior police officer said. “If he fails to turn up by Friday night he will be arrested. Police is tracking Bharti’s movements and he is reportedly hiding in the house of an AAP MlA. He has changed his cell number too”, the official added.
Joint Commissioner of Police, South Western range Dependra Pathak told The Pioneer, “They have served notice to Bharti on Thursday night itself. He was present in his Malviya Nagar house and was asked to join the investigations by 11 a.m. He did not turn up before the Investigating officer and sent his lawyer instead. The lawyer sought time till September 16 as his client was busy with his prior commitments. The permission has been denied and he has been asked to present himself by Friday night. If he fails to appear, he will arrested,”said Pathak.
A team of Delhi Police also conducted raid at the MlA’s house in South Delhi’s Malviya Nagar but he was not present.
Earlier, on Thursday, following the registration of the FIR, his wife lipika Mitra’s statement was recorded before Metropolitan Magistrate Manu Goel Kharb in-chamber under Section 164 of CrPC. In the statement she had levelled that Bharti used to beat her and abused physically and mentally since their marriage.
In the month of June, she approached the Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) and Delhi Police complaining against her husband. The couple was properly counselled at Crime Against Women (CAW) cell in West Delhi but they could not reach to reconciliation. Police registered case against Bharti at Dwarka North police station on Thursday under various section of the Indian Penal Code including 307( attempt to murder, 313/511 ( attempt to kill the baby in the womb), 406 (criminal breach of trust), 417/420 (forgery and cheating), 324 (causing hurt) 498A (dowry harassment).
Mitra, an MBA who works with an MNC said she wanted separation from her husband due to the continuous physical and mental harassment. Currently, 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. She also alleged that he unleashed his labrador on her and did not even provide her any medical aid after she was mauled by the dog.”