Bharti appears before police, denies domestic violence allegation (Roundup)

Former Delhi law minister Somnath Bharti appeared before police in a domestic violence case against him by his wife, after the Delhi High Court granted him protection against arrest till September 17. He accused police of working at the behest of the Prime Minister's Office, and claimed the allegations against him were false.

The 41-year-old Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) legislator from Malviya Nagar constituency in south Delhi, appeared before police late on Tuesday night, accompanied by his pet dog 'Don', who is also wanted by police in the investigation.

Bharti on Wednesday blamed political parties of "misguiding" his wife Lipika Mitra for their political advantage and said the allegations against him were false.

He accused police of working at the behest of the Prime Minister's Office (PMO).

The AAP leader on Tuesday approached the Delhi High Court for anticipatory bail and was given protection against arrest till September 17.

Bharti reached the Dwarka North police station in west Delhi around 2 a.m. on Wednesday, taking the police officials by surprise.

He was, however, sent back as the police officer investigating his case was not present at the police station at that time.

Joint Commissioner of Police Dependra Pathak told IANS on Wednesday that police were keen on Bharti's "custodial interrogation", which was not possible till Thursday in view of the high court order.

Bharti expressed apprehension over the police stance in a series of tweets.

"Just been informed that Delhi Police won't allow me joining the investigation unless I am in their custody. Kuch to gadbad hai!!!"

"Commissioner of Police is passing political statements at whose behest. Modi ji? and for what consideration, securing BJP seat post retirement? Delhi Police seems to have no interest in doing investigation but was interested in working at PMO behest," Bharti tweeted.

"I contacted inspector Dhiraj Kumar, IO of the case, but no one has responded till now. Request Bassi ji to let me know where to go to join investigationa I called Mr. Pathak, Joint CP, Mr. Mishra, Special CP," he further tweeted.

Commissioner of Police Bhim Sain Bassi dismissed Bharti's allegations and said he should have joined the probe and he should introspect what compelled his wife to lodge a complaint against him.

He said police have handled the case without any bias.

"I am surprised Somnath Bharti is making such accusations against Delhi Police, like we are the ones who brought about the case," Bassi said.

"It is a case of domestic violence which we handled very sensitively, tried to mediate as well," he said.

Bharti told the media on Wednesday that police teams were assigned to search for him and his dog even though he was "perfectly accessible".

Lipika Mitra, whom Bharti married in 2010, on Wednesday said the AAP leader misbehaved with her and tried to kill her twice.

"My complaint is based on facts and evidence. He (Bharti) misbehaved with me and beat me up. He also unleashed his dog on me... I don't understand how the AAP, the central government or a third party is responsible for this," Mitra told IANS.

"The FIR was filed three months after I complained to Delhi Police. Bharti being a lawyer should respect law and cooperate with police in the investigation. If he thinks that the allegations are false, then he should come forward and make his point," Mitra added.

Bharti rubbished the domestic violence case filed against him and said he has audio and documentary evidence that would prove that the allegations were false.

"The allegation of attempt to murder has been put on me by the lady, who asks me, 'sweetheart when you will come home, I will take care of you' in an SMS. This SMS was sent to me by her on February 25, 2015. Can you imagine a wife calling her husband in such a way who is trying to murder her?" asked Bharti.

Bharti alleged that political parties have ganged up against him to damage the reputation of the AAP.

He also sought to demonstrate to reporters that his dog does not bark or bite even on being given a command.