Somnath Bharti's fate may be decided at AAP national executive meet

New Delhi, Sep 24: The Aam Aadmi Party's national executive is meeting in the city today where it is likely to take a decision on the fate of its former minister and MLA Somanath Bharti who is on the run in a domestic violence case.

The National Executive is the second highest decision making body of AAP. The national executive which is meeting at Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's residence may take a decision on Bharti's fate at its meeting today, AAP sources said.

Kejriwal had yesterday said that Bharti is becoming an "embarrassment" to the party and he should surrender immediately and cooperate with the police.

Bharati'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, a former AAP Minister, 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.

The Delhi High Court had rejected his plea for anticipatory bail in the case, observing that the allegations against him were backed by "documentary proof".

Terming the allegations against former Delhi law minister Bharti by his wife as "very serious", Justice Suresh Kait had said she has been tolerating his "cruelty" and "brutal assault".

PTI