Somnath Bharti and family will resolve domestic violence issue internally, says AAP

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Friday tried to downplay the controversy concerning Malviya Nagar MLA Somnath Bharti, who has been accused by his wife of domestic violence.

While Bharti claimed that the allegations against him were "politically motivated", the Aam Aadmi Party said that the matter would be resolved "internally by the family".

Senior AAP leader Sanjay Singh addressed a press conference, saying Somnath Bharti had assured the party that he would talk to his wife over her complaints and try to find a solution to the problems.

Meanwhile, sources said that Somnath Bharti tried to contact his wife but did not receive any response. Sources further said that the former Delhi law minister would seek an anticipatory bail if an FIR was lodged against him.

The Delhi Police is expected to issue a notice to the AAP MLA in connection with the domestic violence case, and is believed to have forwarded the complaint to the crime against women cell of Delhi Police.

Meanwhile, Somnath Bharti’s wife Lipika Mitra was reportedly taken for a medical examination of her injuries, which were allegedly inflicted upon her by the AAP MLA.

Lipika had filed a 26-page complaint with the Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) in which she alleged that Bharti had forced her to go for abortion when she became pregnant for the third time and that she once tried to slit her wrist due to unrelenting torture. She has also lodged a complaint about dowry and marriage under false promises.

"Me and my children are subject to harassment and torture - mental, physical and oral - by my husband Somnath Bharti. There is a persistent threat from my husband and his supporters," she had said in her complaint to the DCW. The Delhi police has provided protection to Bharti's wife.

Talking about the issue, Delhi Police Commissioner B S Bassi said that the "protocol on marital disputes" is "different" and the police would work as per the law.

Not dismissing the possibility of an FIR in connection with the case, Bassi said, "If we read the complaint, then it shows that women are in trouble in every section of the society...we have special responsibility towards vulnerable section of the society."