Somnath Bharti says DCW actions 'politically motivated'

Says Singh is a member of Congress

Law minister Somnath Bharti, who courted controversy over his action against an alleged sex-and-drugs ring, Saturday said that the allegations against him are false and it is a "conspiracy to defame" him.

The minister said that Delhi Commission for Women's (DCW) move against him was "politically motivated".

"Barkha Singh is a member of Congress and acting against me for a political motive," Bharti said.

Bharti Friday failed to appear before the women's panel probing his action after which the commission said they would report the matter to Lt. Governor Najeeb Jung.

"All allegations against me are false. It's a conspiracy to defame me," the law minister told reporters.

He added: "Its absolutely wrong and pathetic. Everything is wrong."

Bharti did not heed the summons of the women's commission and instead sent his lawyers as representatives.

The law minister alongwith Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) volunteers Jan 16 raided some homes of African nationals in south Delhi for allegedly running "sex and drug racket".

The minister said he took the action following representations made by the Resident Welfare Association.

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal defended Bharti and also held a sit-in in the heart of Delhi for over 30 hours demanding action against those policemen who did not heed his minister. Kejriwal ended his protest after Jung appealed to him and also sent the two policemen on leave.

On Thursday, AAP leader Yogendra Yadav had ruled out any action against Somnath Bharti saying the Lieutenant Governor has ordered a judicial inquiry into the matter and the report would be out in a month.

He also said that Bharti would not be resigning as the Delhi Law Minister.

Yadav disclosed that the party investigations found no evidence to suggest that Bharti made racist comments or misbehaved with African women during the raid.