No FIR needed on second Ugandan woman's complaint, court told

Delhi Police Saturday told a court there was no need of a separate FIR on the complaint of another Ugandan woman against "unknown accused" for creating a ruckus during a midnight raid led by Law Minister Somnath Bharti.

Police told Metropolitan Magistrate Chetna Singh that they will include the woman's statement in the first information report (FIR) registered earlier.

Filing a response before the metropolitan magistrate, the south Delhi deputy commissioner of police said the fresh complaint by the second woman pertains to the same incident in which a case has already been registered, and hence no fresh FIR was registered.

On Jan 23, the court had asked police to file their reply on a complaint by the second Ugandan woman seeking registration of an FIR against unknown people.

Police were instructed by the court to file an FIR after a complaint Jan 18 by a Ugandan woman about the raid conducted Jan 16.

"The present petitioner (the second Ugandan woman) has already been examined in that case by the investigating officer and her statement has also been recorded," said the status report by police.

"Hence, no fresh FIR was registered as the matter pertains to the same incident in which another case has been registered," it added.

Bharti was not named in both complaints.

Advocate Rakesh Sherawat, appearing for the complainant, told the court that his client came to know through the media that the people who took part in the raid were from the Aam Aadmi Party, led by local legislator Somnath Bharti.

The minister had gone to a house in Khirki Extension, which falls under the jurisdiction of the Malviya Nagar police station, after receiving complaints about an alleged prostitution and drug racket in the area.

The fresh complaint was filed Jan 23 by the Ugandan woman who came to India for medical treatment, believing that the country offered high quality medical facilities.

The woman said more than 10 men carrying wooden sticks threatened her and told her that if she did not open her door she would be shot. She said the mob referred to her as a bad person and made many objectionable comments.

The complainant said that she later recognised on TV some of the people in the mob, who trespassed, assaulted, misbehaved, threatened and molested her.

The woman requested the court to take necessary action against the accused.