Midnight raid: Delhi court reserves order on Bharti's plea

A court here Friday reserved order on Delhi's former law minister Somnath Bharti's plea for registration of a first information report against erring policemen and other unknown persons accused of conducting biased probe in an alleged midnight raid case.

Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Tarun Yogesh fixed Nov 10 for delivering order on Bharti's plea.

Bharti, in his plea, sought an FIR against unidentified police officials under various charges dealing with framing incorrect record, corruptly making report, making false charge of offence with intent to injure and others.

Bharti and others were charge sheeted Sep 29 under 16 sections of the Indian Penal Code, including outraging the modesty of women in the case.

In the charge sheet, police have cited 41 prosecution witnesses, including nine African women.

Police lodged a first information report Jan 19 against "unidentified accused" on the court's direction and booked them on various charges.

The court order came on a plea by a Ugandan woman who sought registration of an FIR against unidentified people for creating a ruckus during the raid between 1 a.m. and 3 a.m. in Khirki Extension here Jan 16.

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

The court also reserved order on defamation case filed by Bharti's counsel against a magistrate for defaming him in its order.

Earlier Nov 3, Metropolitan Magistrate Niti Phutela transferred the matter to the chief metropolitan magistrate, recusing herself from the case and said the plea made by Bharti is pre-mature and cannot be entertained without availing the appropriate remedies.

However, she has kept the application pending.

Another magistrate Wednesday transferred the case back to the chief metropolitan magistrate after defence counsel wanted to record court proceedings and was seeking earlier date of hearing.