The Delhi High Court on Tuesday granted an interim relief to Aam Aadmi Party(AAP) MLA Somnath Bharti in a domestic violence and attempt to murder case filed by his wife.
The interim protection from arrest until Thursday, 17 September, was granted to Bharti by a bench of Justices BD Ahmed and Sanjeev Sachdeva after his counsel, senior advocate Dayan Krishnan, informed the court that the matter is urgent and there is every chance of his arrest.
Krishnan, assisted by advocate Vijay Aggarwal, had also told the court that immediately after rejection of his anticipatory bail; a non-bailable warrant was issued against the former Delhi Law Minister.
Bharti’s counsel mentioned his plea before the high court earlier today after a trial court dismissed his petition seeking anticipatory bail and another court issued an NBW against him.
AAP, meanwhile, asked Bharti to surrender before police. Sources said the party was upset with Bharti as it is unable to contact him.
“We are trying to contact him, but are not able to. We advise him to surrender before police,” said AAP leader Ashutosh.
Party sources, meanwhile, said that Bharti’s “remaining incommunicado” was sending a wrong signal as AAP has been maintaining the stand that Delhi Police have been victimising its MLAs by arresting them.
Three AAP MLAs – former law minister Jitendra Singh Tomar, Manoj Kumar and Surinder Singh – have faced arrest by Delhi Police.
Earlier, Bharti’s plea for anticipatory bail was rejected by Additional Sessions Judge (ASJ) Sanjay Garg observing that it was the second complaint lodged against the MLA by his wife Lipika Mitra, who has alleged that he did not mend his conduct despite assurance before Crime Against Women Cell of the police.
