A local court on Thursday granted bail to Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Somnath Bharti in a domestic violence and attempt to murder case filed by his estranged wife lipika Mitra. The court said that Bharti’s custody is no more required for investigation and the allegations of dog bite and injury mark on lipika’s wrist were also not in consonance with her recorded conversation with Somnath.
The court of Additional Sessions Judge (ASJ) Anil Kumar concluded that Bharti has been falsely implicated under Section 307 (attempt to murder) and 313 (Causing miscarriage without woman’s consent) of IPC. It was also submitted that it has not been mentioned where the dog bit lipika and no medical papers were brought on record.
Bharti was granted bail on a personal bond of `1 lakh with one surety of the like amount. “I have gone through the police file and found no medical evidence in support of the incident of alleged wrist slit.
The Medico legal Case (MlC) mentions only old cut marks and no other external injury,” the ASJ said.
Examination of dog by the board of directors of Animal Husbandry Hospital was conducted where Bharti was directed to give commands to his pet dog, Don, but the dog did not respond on his commands.
The court, after inspecting the emails exchanged between Bharti and his wife, said that these emails reflect that after the incident of dog biting, the dog was still kept in his house by lipika and she was concerned about the dog while Bharti was not there.
The court further directed the former law Minister that he will not leave Delhi without prior permission of Magistrate and will report his presence once in a week in the office of DCP (South West).
“Bharti will not tamper with the evidence or influence the witnesses or do any act which will create a reasonable ground to assume that he is trying to create hurdle in fair investigation,” the ASJ added.
“He is a member of Delhi legislative Assembly and I find no ground to agree with the apprehension of State/Police that he may flee abroad. Necessary imposition can be imposed on apprehensions of him tampering with the prosecution,” the ASJ said.