Former Delhi law minister Somnath Bharti
Former Delhi law minister Somnath Bharti has been named in a First Information Report filed by the police on the basis of his wife Lipika Mitra's complaint of domestic violence.
The charges are non-bailable, say police sources, not ruling out arrest.
Mr Bharti, an Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) lawmaker, has been accused by his wife of beating and torturing her and even trying to kill her. He "let the dogs lose at me and my child," she has reportedly alleged, claiming photographic evidence of abuse.
Sources close to Mr Bharti said he was "shocked at the development" as he was in touch with his wife on SMS till this morning. The charges are unreasonable, he has reportedly said.
The police have registered Lipika Mitra's complaint three months after she came out with allegations of domestic abuse.
"We tried counselling and reconciliation but his wife insisted on legal action," said a police officer.
But Ms Mitra was quoted as saying today that she was not aware of the police complaint.
A court had on July 7 dismissed an anticipatory bail petition by Mr Bharti saying it was "premature" as no FIR had been filed against him.
In complaints to the police as well as the National Commission for Women, Ms Mitra has alleged that her husband had abused since their wedding in 2010.
Somnath Bharti's brief stint as law minister was an embarrassment for the previous 49-day Arvind Kejriwal government in 2013-14. His midnight raid targeting African women at a south Delhi colony badly dented the party's image.
After Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung recently cleared his prosecution for the raids, Mr Bharti said: "Now that I am in public service I expect to get into trouble. Because nobody wants anyone to do any good work. I will never be charged with corruption but I expect resistance."
Three AAP lawmakers have been arrested this year for various charges; the ruling party says it is being targeted by the Delhi Police, which reports to the Centre.