Case registered against Somnath Bharti

Delhi Police on Wednesday registered a case against Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Somnath Bharti for allegedly instigating some of his supporters to misbehave with a woman.

Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (South) Nupur Prasad told IANS that "a case has been registered at the Saket Police station against Bharti on a complaint received from a lady".

Bharti was booked under Section 109 (abetment) of the Indian Penal Code, police said.

While, his supporters whom he allegedly instigated were booked under sections 354 (assault or criminal force to woman), Section 323 (punishment for voluntarily causing hurt), Section 506 (punishment for criminal intimidation) and Section 509 (word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman) of the IPC, police said.

The incident took place a fortnight ago, when the lady, who works with a non-profit organisation, had gone to attend a programme where Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was present as the chief guest.

The complainant wanted a few women of her group to meet Kejriwal to show their work, but Bharti's supporters allegedly misbehaved with her.

However, the police refused to summon Bharti immediately. "We will first record the statement of the complainant under section 164, then only we will summon him to join the investigation," the officer added.

Earlier, the AAP MLA from Malviya Nagar was in the news for domestic violence, molestation and promoting enmity.

Bharti was chargesheeted in a domestic violence case filed by his wife Lipika Mitra.

He is also facing charges of molestation, assault and promoting enmity in a case dating back to January 2014 -- when he led raids on several flats in south Delhi's Khirki extension area where foreigners of African-origin were staying.

--IANS

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