Bharti allowed to attend AAP meet in Puducherry

A court on Wednesday allowed former Delhi law minister Somnath Bharti, accused in a domestic violence case, to go to Puducherry to attend a meeting of Delhi's ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).

Metropolitan Magistrate Abhishek Kumar gave the go ahead to Bharti. The AAP meeting will take place from October 16 to 21.

He said no prejudice will be caused to investigation as he has joined the investigation as and when called by the police.

The court told Bharti to mark his presence before the deputy commissioner of police before leaving and after returning to Delhi.

Seeking permission to travel outside Delhi, Bharti said he was the party in-charge for Puducherry and his presence was needed there.

A sessions court on October 7 granted bail to Bharti but barred him from leaving Delhi withour prior permission.

Bharti was named in a complaint filed on September 10 following a complaint by his wife Lipika, who said he had been abusing her since their marriage in 2010.

She claimed he used to beat and torture her and once even tried to kill her.

Bharti was booked for attempt to murder, cruelty towards wife, voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapon, criminal breach of trust, attempt to cause miscarriage without woman's consent, cheating and criminal intimidation.