New Delhi: Delhi High Court granted relief to Aam Aadmi Party MLA Somnath Bharti today in domestic violence case and stayed his arrest till September 17.
Former Law Minister approached high court seeking protection from arrest in a case related to domestic violence and attempt to murder filed by his wife after an arrest warrant was issued against him.
A local court yesterday rejected his anticipatory bail plea and issued a non-bailable.
Somnath Bharti's lawyer Vijay Aggarwal said after the hearing that court was of opinion that there is still a chance of reconciliation between Bharti and his wife.
However, his wife Lipika Mitra ruled out any chance of reconciliation and said she is doing this for her children. She expressed fear for her life and said, “What I feel is that if this time I reconcile you will see my dead body coming out from his home.”
Meanwhile, the ruling AAP today asked Bharti to surrender before police. Sources told PTI that the party was upset with Bharti as it is unable to contact him.
"We are trying to contact him, but are not able to. We advise him to surrender before police," said AAP leader Ashutosh.
Party sources, meanwhile, said that Bharti's "remaining incommunicado" was sending a wrong signal as AAP has been maintaining the stand that Delhi Police have been victimising its MLAs by arresting them.
Three AAP MLAs -- former Law Minister Jitendra Singh Tomar, Manoj Kumar and Surinder Singh -- have faced arrest by Delhi Police. If taken into custody, Bharti will be the fourth AAP MLA to be arrested in the last four months.
(With inputs from agencies)
