Somnath Bharti evades arrest, playing hide and seek

New Delhi, Sep 22 (PTI) Controversial AAP MLA Somnath Bharti today faced arrest as police hunted for him following rejection of hisanticipatory bail plea by the Delhi High Court in a case of attempt to murder and domestic violence lodged against him by his estranged wife.

Swiftly swinging into action after rejection of the former Delhi Law Minister's anticipatory bail application, police despatched teams to his office and residence but failed to track him down.

Joint Commissioner of Police (southwest) Deependra Pathak said the

Malviya Nagar MLA is "evading arrest".

"Bharti is evading arrest. We sent two police teams to Bharti's office at Dwarka and residence at Malviya Nagar, but he was not present at either of the two. When we tried to call him up, his phone was also found to be switched off," he said.

The high court had earlier in the day denied him pre-arrest bail,

holding allegations levelled against him by his wife Lipika Mitra were "very serious" and backed by "documentary proof".

Justice Suresh Kait said in the order that the victim had been "tolerating"

her MLA husband's "brutal assault".

"The present case is not a simplicitor one for the offences under Sections 498-A (cruelty towards a married woman)/406 (criminal breach of trust) IPC as the complainant has been tolerating cruelty with brutal assault, which is evident from an e-mail dated March 20, 2013,

sent by the complainant (wife) to the petitioner (Bharti)...

"Bharti is elected as Member of Legislative Assembly of Delhi. He

should have shown more generosity and responsibility towards his

wife and children. Earlier, he had financial difficulties, therefore,

every time, he compromised with his wife. But after being elected

as MLA, he failed to win the sentiments and trust of his wife," the

judge observed.

Lipika 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 submitted a complaint

to the police in this regard.

Delhi Police had 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.