Somnath Bharti Moves Court For Protection From Arrest in Domestic Violence Case

New Delhi: The Aam Aadmi Party's Somnath Bharti, wanted by the police after being accused of domestic violence, has moved the Delhi High Court for protection from arrest.

Mr Bharti, former law minister of Delhi, has been accused by his estranged wife Lipika Mitra of torture, abuse and attempt to murder. An arrest warrant has been issued for the 41-year-old.

Since the case was filed late last week, Mr Bharti has ignored multiple requests by the police to make himself available for interrogation.

The police say that the former minister did not keep a Friday appointment, and has gone missing since then. On Thursday, Mr Bharti tweeted, "This too shall pass". Nothing after that on his account.
A Delhi judge had yesterday refused his request for anticipatory bail, which would have ensured he could not be arrested till a date decided by the court. He is expected to move the high court today.

The judge said "as per the complainant, on March 19, 2013, when she (Lipika) asked Bharti to pay the rent, he not only tried to strangulate her, but also unleashed his dog on her despite knowing that she was in the seventh month of pregnancy."

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Mr Bharti's lawyers argued that as a state legislator, he will not disappear if he is allowed bail.

"I (Bharti) am a lawyer, ex-Delhi law minister and a public servant and there is no chance that I will abscond," his lawyer said.

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Mr Bharti was not included in Arvind Kejriwal's government after the Aam Aadmi Party took office in February. In its first 49-day term, Mr Bharti was widely condemned for leading a mob that illegally detained and harassed African women alleging they were part of a prostitution and drug racket.