Bharti fails to appear before DCW; next hearing on July 6

A day after Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) chief called him "an anti-social element", AAP leader Somnath Bharti once again failed to appear before the panel, citing that the Commission has no jurisdiction over his wife's domestic violence complaint.
"Yesterday you (DCW chairperson Barkha Shukla Singh) again did a press conference and in no unambiguous words you defamed me, Dr Kumar Vishwas and our party AAP by using choicest of words and further said that you won't do any counselling of such anti-social people, in which view I have decided not to appear before the commission," Bharti said in a letter given out to media by a representative who had come on his behalf to submit it to the Commission.

The leader further asserted that the Commission has no jurisdiction over the case as his wife Lipika has already lodged a complaint with Crime Against Women (CAW) cell of the police on June 11.
"Since my matter has also been with police since June 11, DCW has no jurisdiction over the case," the letter said.
The Commission, however, said that they would approach the police for bringing Bharti before the panel.
"We have now posted the matter for July 6 and have written to the DCP (South West) to ensure Bharti's appearance before the Commission on that day," DCW chief said.

Lipika who appeared before the Commission said that she agreed with DCW chief's remarks that Bharti was an "anti-social element" after he didn't turn up at the venue.
"I totally agree with Madam (DCW chief) that he (Bharti) is an anti-social element and a social bond cannot be nurtured with such people who have no respect for women or the Commission," she said.
Lipika reiterated that she wants to go ahead with the police complaint. In spite of counselling sessions arranged for the couple, she said that there was no chance for a patch up as Bharti will "never change".