Court reserves order on Bharti's plea for FIR against cops

A court here today reserved for November 3 its order on a plea by former Delhi Law Minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Somnath Bharti seeking lodging of an FIR against unknown police personnel who allegedly implicated him in a molestation case.
During the arguments on the plea, Bharti and his advocate alleged that the law was "grossly misused" by the police in their probe pertaining to the alleged midnight raid, the case in which he has been chargesheeted along with 17 others for purportedly molesting some African women.
Bharti claimed that he has been framed in the case due to "political vendetta".

He told Metropolitan Magistrate Niti Phutela that the police has implicated him by fabricating the evidence and has suppressed 13 crucial facts from the court.
"They (police) have framed me for political vendetta and FIR should be lodged against them under section 211 (false charges with intent to injure), 217 (public servant disobeying direction of law), 218 (public servant framing an incorrect record), 219 (public servant in a judicial proceeding corruptly making an order) and 220 (confinement by a person, contrary to law) of IPC," Bharti said.
The court, after hearing the arguments, reserved its order on the plea.

"Have received the complaint case by the order of Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (CMM). Arguments heard in detail on the plea seeking registration of FIR under 156 (3) of CrPC (magistrate empowered to order investigation for cognizable offence) against unknown police officials. Put up for order on November 3," the magistrate said.

During the proceedings, Bharti's counsel alleged that police officials had cooked up the statements of witnesses and withheld crucial facts to book his client.
"Suppression of facts by them was a deliberate act with a malafide intention. They are qualified investigators and suppression of facts can't be by omission or negligence," he said.
"Order may be passed for registration of an FIR against the police officials and may be my allegation are false but let the truth come out after the investigation done by an officer court deems fit," Bharti said.