My wife being misused for political ends: Somnath Bharti

New Delhi, Sep 16: AAP MLA Somnath Bharti today appeared before the police for the second time in two days offering to join the probe over allegations of attempt to murder and domestic violence even as he said that his "gullible" wife was being "misused" for meeting political ends by rival parties.

However, police refused to entertain Bharti saying that the concerned investigating officer was not present while maintaining its demand for "custodial interrogation", which was not possible in view of the Delhi High Court's two-day reprieve to him.

Bharti also accused the Delhi Police of working at the Centre's "behest" saying it is not "responding" to his offer of joining investigation and wanted to "torture" him in custody instead. "It's absolutely a matrimonial affair.

She (Lipika Mitra) is being misused for political purposes. Political parties have ganged up against me, attempting to damage my party (AAP) through me taking advantage of her innocence and gullibility," Bharti told PTI.

He refuted the charges against him saying he was ready with a point-by-point rebuttal based on solid evidences. The Malviya Nagar legislator also questioned the sections of Indian Penal Code slapped against him.

Police was after him as if he was a "terrorist", he said after showing up at Dwarka North police station in the evening.

"The police is being misused. In a case like this Section 307 or 313 cannot be applied. They have used these section as my arrest is not possible under Section 498A and 406. Police should have ideally questioned me by now," he said.

"If their intention is my arrest, who can politically benefit from it? You (police) have issued non-bailable warrant against me, have sent personnel across the country to track me as if I was a terrorist," Bharti said.

The former Delhi Law Minister, with his dog in tow, had appeared at the same station last night also. He also met DCP (Southwest) R A Sanjeev today. Joint Commissioner of Police (Southwest) Dependra Pathak said the police is looking for Bharti's "custodial interrogation", which is not possible till tomorrow.

"Questioning him now can be counted as a coercive action which he will be considered to be a violation of the HC order," Pathak said. Bharti reacted wondering the need for his custodial interrogation as he is "ready to cooperate with the investigation".

"That is why I am saying that Narendra Modiji's police is taking revenge. They want to torture me...there is something fishy," Bharti said.

Responding to Bharti's allegations, Delhi Police Commissioner B S Bassi said that Bharti should have rather joined the probe and introspect about what compelled his wife to get an FIR registered against him.

"It is sad that Somnath Bharti is hurling such allegations on Delhi Police and his wife. It is possible that in future he starts questioning the strictness of the law in dealing with cases of crime against women," said Bassi.

PTI