New Delhi: The Aam Aadmi Party's Somnath Bharti, who is wanted in an attempt to murder case filed by his wife, was ordered by the Supreme Court to surrender by this evening. "If you are a responsible citizen, then don't run away," was the court's stern message for Mr Bharti.
"Surrender first and then come to court," the court added as it refused to protect Mr Bharti from arrest and rejected his anticipatory bail plea.
Mr Bharti had earlier been urged by his party chief Arvind Kejriwal to turn himself in and stop embarrassing his family and the party. Mr Kejriwal's admonition in public tweets indicated that he had all but dumped his once powerful minister and close aide, a man whom he had strongly defended in the past despite a controversial midnight raid targeting African women.
The 41-year-old AAP lawmaker has been accused of domestic violence and torture by his wife Lipika Mitra, whom he married in 2010. Ms Mitra has also alleged that Mr Bharti tried to kill her and ordered his dog to bite her when she was pregnant.
He has been dodging the police after two courts rejected his plea for anticipatory bail last week.
The Delhi Police has said that the lawmaker was changing locations and phones like a "common criminal" and getting professional help from a group of people with a crime record.
Mr Bharti had also changed his appearance to escape detection, the police said.
The former law minister, who is also a lawyer, has been tracked down to places in Haryana and in Uttar Pradesh like Agra.
"Surrender first and then come to court," the court added as it refused to protect Mr Bharti from arrest and rejected his anticipatory bail plea.
Mr Bharti had earlier been urged by his party chief Arvind Kejriwal to turn himself in and stop embarrassing his family and the party. Mr Kejriwal's admonition in public tweets indicated that he had all but dumped his once powerful minister and close aide, a man whom he had strongly defended in the past despite a controversial midnight raid targeting African women.
He has been dodging the police after two courts rejected his plea for anticipatory bail last week.
Advertisement
Mr Bharti had also changed his appearance to escape detection, the police said.
Advertisement
COMMENTS
Advertisement
"Back To Square One": Arvind Kejriwal's Lawyer Seeks Bail, Slams CBI Arrest Biden Weighing Proposals To Reform US Supreme Court? Details Inside Complete Migrant Labourers' Ration Card Verification In 1 Month: Supreme Court To States 25,000 Aspirants For Airport Jobs Paying Rs 22,000: A Mumbai Stampede Scare In Puja Khedkar's Disability Certificate, A Factory Address, Many Questions 4 Top Leaders Quit Ajit Pawar's Party In Major Setback After Poll Drubbing Bihar Man, His 2 Daughters, Stabbed To Death By Girl's Lover: Police "Bizarre Reason" Why No Sniper Was On Roof Where Trump Shooter Was Hiding Prank Goes Wrong: Woman Falls From 3rd Floor In Building Near Mumbai, Dies Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.