Won't join mediation, Somnath Bharti's wife tells SC

In a setback to AAP lawmaker Somnath Bharti, his estranged wife Lipika Mitra on Monday told the Supreme Court that she was not inclined to join mediation for an amicable resolution of their matrimonial dispute and complaint of domestic violence.

She conveyed her decision to a bench of Chief Justice H.L. Dattu and Justice Amitava Roy.

Taking note of her refusal, the court disposed off Bharti's earlier plea seeking anticipatory bail, and asked him to approach the trial court for his regular bail.

It also asked the lower court to decide his bail application expeditiously either the same day or the next day.

The apex court in the last hearing of the matter on October 1 had asked Mitra if she was inclined to join mediation as offered by her husband to resolve all the issues between them.

Bharti, who is facing allegations of domestic violence, was asked by the apex court on September 28 to first surrender to police before his plea for anticipatory bail could be considered.

However, on the next date of hearing on October 1, Bharti's plea for anticipatory bail was opposed by Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi who had contended that plea by the Aam Aadmi Party lawmaker had become infructuous after he had surrendered and sent to police custody.