File Picture of Somnath Bharti
Delhi Police today told a court here that it has charge sheeted former city law minister and AAP leader Somnath Bharti for molestation and other offences in a case pertaining to his purported midnight raid on a house where some African women were residing.
Investigating officer (IO) Vijay Chandel told Metropolitan Magistrate Chetna Singh that as per the earlier direction of the court, charge sheet has been filed in the case on September 29.
After going through the charge sheet briefly the Metropolitan Magistrate asked the IO to appear before the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate court today at 2 PM for transfer of the case to appropriate court.
"Investigating officer of the case is directed to appear before the CMM court today at 2 PM, so that case be transferred to appropriate court," the magistrate said.
Chandel said that charge sheet has been filed against 18 identified accused including Bharti under 16 sections of the Indian Penal Code.
He said that among the prominent charges include those under sections 354 (molestation), 147/149(rioting), 341 (wrongful restraint), 506 (criminal intimidation), 509 (outraging modesty of a woman), 153A (promoting enmity between two groups), 323 (assault) and 427 (criminal trespass) of the IPC.
The IO said there are around 40 prosecution witnesses in the case including nine Ugandan women.
During the last hearing on September 10, the court had directed the Delhi Police to file the final status report by October 1 "without fail".
The court had on May 26 issued a notice to the IO to remain present "in person" with the final status report.
The court had on January 29 asked police to file status report while refusing to order lodging of a separate FIR on a plea by an African woman seeking registration of a case against unnamed persons.
However, it had asked Delhi Police that the Ugandan woman be made co-complainant in the first FIR lodged on January 19 as she was also "the victim" of the same incident.