The pet labrador of former Delhi law Minister Somnath Bharti has now become the bone of contention between the prosecution and the defense in the domestic violence and attempt-to-murder case booked against Bharti by his estranged wife lipika Mitra.
The dog named ‘Don’ has been mentioned in the FIR lodged under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, including attempt to murder, and has become crucial to the investigation in the domestic violence case. The police consider the dog so crucial to the case that they had even sought its custody from the court.
However, till going to press, the Delhi Police continued to struggle to trace “Don”.
Even if “Don” is found, the million dollar question is whether the Delhi Police will conduct the Test Identification Parade (TIP) on the dog to buttress its case against the former law Minister.
Joint Commissioner of Police Dependra Pathak told The Pioneer, “The dog’s role might have been included in further investigation,
but as of now, we have to arrest Bharti first.”
The dog came into the picture after the investigating officer mentioned in a city court on Monday that Bharti excited his pet to pounce on his pregnant wife. Police said that the dog’s role could be investigated only after Bharti’s arrest. The former Minister, who is underground, got two-day relief from arrest. The Delhi High Court on Tuesday granted him protection till September 17. Justice Suresh Kait issued a notice and sought a police report on the status of the investigation in the
case by Thursday. “Issue notice to the Delhi Police. Police
shall file a status report. Till then, no coercive steps against the petitioner (Bharti),” the High Court said.
Pathak also said that they have to verify the allegations levelled by lipika Mitra that Bharti used his dog to attack and intimidate her.
Sources said investigators have the medical reports regarding injuries inflicted on lipika by the dog and the bite marks on her body. Police said that they have not made any move so far regarding the dog attack and that the TIP may be conducted if required during the investigation.
TIP is the process in which the complainant has to identify the accused. In this case, Mitra would identify the dog that attacked her from a line up of other dogs of the same breed.
According to Mitra’s complaint, following an argument on March 3, 2013, Bharti became abusive. “He slapped me several times and also tried to strangulate me. After that he pushed me knowing very well that I was in the seventh month of my pregnancy. He then ordered his dog, a labrador, to attack me. As the dog was attacking me, Bharti stood there and watched me getting mauled. I was bitten by the dog in multiple places on my stomach and private parts. On hearing my cries, the neighbours came to intervene and it was only then that Bharti controlled his dog,” she said in her complaint.