File photo of AAP MLA Somnath Bharti
Wanted in a case of domestic abuse with charges that include attempt to murder, Somnath Bharti, the Aam Aadmi Party leader and former Law Minister of Delhi, has not been located so far by the city police. Offices of his party have been searched in Delhi and Agra.
Mr Bharti, 41, was yesterday refused anticipatory bail, which would have guaranteed that he could not be arrested till a court-determined date. His lawyers have appealed to the High Court for bail today. Before the hearing began, Mr Bharti's estranged wife, Lipika Mitra, was in court. The politician was missing. "We are waiting for him to join the probe," said Deependra Pathak, a senior Delhi Police officer handling the investigation.
"This is Somnath ji's personal matter, AAP won't interfere. But we advise him to come forth and take part in investigation," said Ashutosh, a senior party leader.
Mr Bharti has been accused by Ms Mitra, who he married in 2012, of domestic violence and attempted murder; she says that he tried to strangle her and that while she was pregnant, he attempted to force a miscarriage by ordering his dog to attack her.
The police told a Delhi court yesterday that the Labrador, Don, has also not been traced. "We are searching for the dog because apparently it bit her during the struggle while the complainant was being strangled," said Mr Pathak.
Since the case was filed late last week, Mr Bharti has ignored multiple requests by the police to make himself available for interrogation.
On Thursday, Mr Bharti tweeted, "This too shall pass".
Mr Bharti was not included in Arvind Kejriwal's government after the Aam Aadmi Party took office in February. In its first and snappy 49-day term, Mr Bharti was excoriated for leading a mob that illegally detained and harassed African women alleging they were part of a prostitution and drug racket.