Embattled Delhi law Minister Somnath Bharti, on Friday, failed to appear before the Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) and instead sent his lawyers who had a public spat with panel chief Barkha Singh after she refused to entertain them. The DCW had summoned Bharti following allegations that the Delhi Minister led a group of AAP workers who misbehaved with a number of African women on the pretext of a raid on an alleged drug and prostitution ring in South Delhi last week.
Bharti was asked to depose before the DCW to explain the charges against him but he sent his lawyers, who said he was absent due to ‘some urgencies’. The DCW chief, Singh, said the Commission had asked the Minister to depose before it and would not accept explanation of his lawyers. While Bharti was to appear before the DCW at around 3 pm on Friday, he rather opted to inaugurate a kite flying festival, which took off on the same day in the Capital.
“Out of the four complainants, two have come and have recognised Bharti. The law Minister did not even send a letter explaining as to why he could not appear today. We will even take actions against the two lawyers by registering FIRs for their misbehaviour. The DCW rules state clearly that no lawyer can approach us. Bharti himself should have come. We will go to the l-G as he must resign,” said Barkha Singh.
One of Bharti’s lawyers Rishikesh Kumar said Singh did not allow them to put across his point on the issue. “We were told lawyers cannot represent. I said I have got the instructions. Then she said no, you are a lawyer. I told her that because of some urgency Bharti might not be able to attend today’s hearing,” added Kumar. Kumar said Bharti will file a written reply as the Minister had received four separate complaints by four different women.