Matrimonial dispute settled, Somnath Bharti tells HC

New Delhi, Aug 10: The Delhi High Court was informed that AAP MLA Somnath Bharti and his wife have settled the matrimonial dispute between them through mediation.

When Bharti urged the court to quash the criminal case lodged against him by his wife Lipika Mitra, Justice R K Gauba asked him to wait for some time so that his spouse and two minor children were comfortably settled in the house with him.

The court listed the matter for further hearing on March 7 next year and stayed the proceedings in the trial court.

The court was hearing a plea by Bharti seeking quashing of the FIR lodged against him by his wife for the alleged offences of attempt to murder, harassment cheating, criminal intimidation, causing miscarriage without the woman's consent, causing hurt by dangerous weapons or means and criminal breach of trust under the IPC.

"Let the dust settle. Let's wait for sometime. Let her (wife) and the children be comfortable. First comes the comfort of the wife and children, then rest," the court said.

Senior advocate Dayan Krishnan, appearing for Bharti, told the court that the AAP leader and his wife had participated in the mediation and they have settled their dispute.

He said they wanted to live together peacefully along with their children.

Asked by the judge whether Bharti and Mitra were living together, the couple, who was present in the court, replied in affirmative.

The court issued notice and sought response of Mitra and Delhi Police on the former Delhi law minister's plea.

The investigators had on April 5, 2016 filed a charge sheet before the trial court in the case, claiming that the woman had alleged that Bharti had endangered the life of an unborn child she was carrying by unleashing his dog on her.

The MLA from Malviya Nagar assembly, who was granted bail in October 2015 after being in jail for eight days, had denied the allegations.

Mitra had on June 10, 2015 filed a complaint against him with the Delhi Commission for Women and an FIR was lodged by the police on September 9, 2015 for allegedly subjecting her to domestic violence and trying to kill her.

The AAP leader was arrested in the wee hours of September 29, 2015 after the Supreme Court had ordered him to surrender.

The trial court had granted bail to Bharti observing that he was no longer required for investigation and since he was a member of Delhi Assembly, there was no ground of apprehension that he may flee.