File final report on Bharti's midnight campaign, police told

A court here Monday asked the investigating officer to file the final report by Aug 2 in the probe against "unknown" people for creating ruckus during the Jan 16 midnight campaign led by then Delhi law minister Somnath Bharti.

Metropolitan Magistrate Chetna Singh asked police to file the final status report on the investigation and fixed Aug 2 as the next date of hearing.

The magistrate also issued notice to the investigating officer and directed him to remain present in person in the court that day.

The investigating officer failed to appear in court Monday. The court was informed that he was busy on some emergency duty.

Police Jan 19 lodged a first information report against unknown accused on the court's direction and booked them under various charges dealing with wrongful confinement, criminal intimidation and act intended to insult the modesty of a woman.

The court order came on a plea moved by a Ugandan woman seeking registration of an FIR against unknown people for creating ruckus during the campaign between 1 a.m. and 3 a.m. in Khirki Extension Jan 16.

Advocate Rakesh Sherawat, appearing for the Ugandan woman, told the court his client learnt through the media that the people taking part in the midnight campaign were from the Aam Aadmi Party, led by then minister Bharti.

However, Bharti was not named in the complaint.

The minister went to a house in Khirki Extension after receiving complaints about an alleged prostitution and drug racket in the area.