Somnath Bharti 'untraceable', Delhi govt allows his prosecution in Khirki Extension raid case

New Delhi: In more trouble for Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Somnath Bharti, who continues to evade arrest, the Delhi government on Thursday granted its nod to the authorities to prosecute him in connection with the last year's Khirki Extension raid case.

However, no official confirmation regarding the same has come as yet.

Bharti, who is still untraceable, had moved Supreme Court on Wednesday seeking protection from arrest in domestic violence case, filed by his wife Lipika Mitra.

The controversial MLA has sought a direction that the Delhi Police be restrained from arresting him till his petition challenging the High Court order is decided, his counsel said.

"We have filed the application in the Supreme Court. Now that we have approached the Supreme Court, I hope that Delhi Police will hold their horses and not trouble the staff and relatives of Somnath Bharti till the outcome of the application in the apex court," Bharti's lawyer Vijay Aggarwal told PTI.

The Delhi High Court on Tuesday dismissed the anticipatory bail plea of Delhi's former law minister Somnath Bharti in a domestic violence case.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal also tweeted that former law minister Somnath Bharti should surrender to police and that by "running away" from arrest "he is becoming embarrassment for the party and his family".

The AAP leader MLA, whose wife accused him of domestic violence and attempt to murder, was not traceable after the court rejected his plea for anticipatory bail, observing that the allegations against him were backed by "documentary proof".

After the court ruling, police had raided several places yesterday including Bharti's residence and office but could not nab him. Raids have been conducted across the National Capital Region today also.

Bharti was named in a first information report (FIR) registered in Dwarka in west Delhi on charges of domestic violence and attempt to murder, and attempt to cause miscarriage without the woman's consent.

Bharti's wife Lipika Mitra had filed a complaint of domestic violence with Delhi Commission for Women on June 10 alleging that her husband had been abusing her since their marriage in 2010. She had also given a complaint to the police in this regard.

Delhi Police then registered an FIR against Bharti under sections 307 (attempt to murder), 498A (cruelty towards wife), 324 (voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapon), 406 (criminal breach of trust), 313 read with 511 (attempt to cause miscarriage without woman's consent), 420 (cheating) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of IPC.

Joint Commissioner of Police (Southwest) Dependra Pathak said said several police teams are raiding places across National Capital Region including Faridabad and Gurgaon to arrest the Malviya Nagar MLA.